The Eddy current., 1898-04-16

NANNNAN NNNAANW ANNM NIN NNanNHININU
with the consul general and the local
authorities 10 make effective dlstrlbu-
tion u the relief collected through the
ehoris of the central committee. Nearly
100000 IN money and supplies have
already reached the sufferers and more
j. forthcoming. The supplies are ad-
miitod duty free, and the tranaporta-
tion 20 the interior has been arranged
80 that relief. az first necessarily con
hned 70 Havana and the larger cities,
is now extended through most, II not all
nf the towns whore suffering exists.
Thousands Of lives have already been
saved. Tho necessity for change In
the condition OF the roconcentrados IA
recognized by the Spanish government.
Within a few days the orders of Cen
eral Wcylcr have been revoked. the re-
concentrates nre permitted 10 return
20 their homes and aided 10 resume tho
Helf-supportlng pursuits Of peace. pub
nc works have been ordered 10 give
them employment and a sum Of $500. 900
mas been appropriated for their relief.
The war IN Cuba u OF such a nature
That short Of suhiugatlon or oxtermlna-
tion a hnal military victory for either
side seems imprnctlcable Tho alter
native lies In the physical exhaustion
OF the one or the other party. or per-
maps both a condition which In effect
ended the ten years war by the truce
on Ianjon. Tho prospect Of such a pro-
tcetlon ana conclusion OF the present
strife u contingency hardly 90 be con
iemplatod with equanimity boy the civ
llized world and least OF all by the
United states. affected and injured as
we are deeply and intimately. by lta
very existence.
Roalizlng this II appears 10 be my
duty in spirit of true friondlinoss. no
less 10 Spain than 10 the Cubana. who
have 80 much 10 gain by the prolonga-
ton OF the struggle. 10 bring about an
Immediate termination of the war. To
this end ! submitted on the 27th ultlmo
as n result OF much representation and
correspondence through the United
states minister at Madrid. propositions
to the Spanish government looking 10
an armistico until October ist pending
negotiations of peace. the immediate
reformation Of the order OF rcconcen-
tration so as tu permit the people TO
return to their farms and the needy TO
be relieved with provisions and mpnlled
from the United States co-operatlng
with the Spanish authorities 80 as 10
afford fun relief.
The reply OF the Spanish cabinet was
received ON the night OF the 3ist uitl-
mo- II uflera. as the means 90 bring
about peace In Cuba to confde the sep
aratiOn thereof 20 the inmulnr pnriia-
ment, inasmuch as the concurrence OF
that body would be necessary to reach
mai result, II being however. under.
stood that the powers reserved by the
constitution to the central governments
are not lessened or diminished As the
cuban parliament does not meet until
the first Of May the Spanish govern
mont would not object for lts part TO
accept ~ once suspension ~ hostlll-
ties II asked for by the insurgents from
the general-in-chlof. 10 whom Il would
pertain IN such cases. TO determine the
duration and conditions OF the armls-
tlco.
The propositions submitted by Cen
eral Woudford and the reply OF tho
Spanish government were both I'm the
form Of brief memorandums. the texts
Of which are before me. and are sub
stnntially on The language above given.
The function OF the Cuban parliament
u the matter Of preparing peace" and
the manner OF lta doing 80 are not ok
pressed m the Spanish memorandum
but from General Woodfords explana-
tory report of preliminary discussions
preceding the iinal conference. Il Is un-
derstood that the Spanish government
stands ready 10 give the inMlar con-
gress full powers 10 settle the terms
OF peace with the insurgents whether
by direct negotiations or indirectly by
means OF loglslCtion. does not appear.
with this last overture IN the way OF
Immediate peace and lts dlsappolntlnr
reception the legislative was brought to
the end OF his effort
In my annual message Of December
last | said "Of the untrled measures
there remain only; Recognition OF the
insurgents as bellgerants. recognition
OF the independence Of Cuba: neutral
intervention % end the war by lmpos.
ing rational compromise between the
contestants and Intervention In favor of
one or the other party. II speaks moi
forcible annexation, for that cannot be-
thought o. That, by our code of neu.
trality, would be criminal aggression"
Theroupon I reviewed these alterna.
tlves In the light of President Grants
measured words. uttered IN 1875. when
after seven years OF sangulnary. de-
structlye and cruel hostllltios la Cuba
he reached the conclusion that the rec
ognltion of the independence of Cuba
was lmpractlyahlo and lndefenslble;
and that the recognition OF belllgerancy
was not warranted by the facts accord
ing 10 the tests OF public law. COM
mented especially upon the latter as
pect Of the question, pointing ont the
Inconvenience and positive dangers on
a recognition OF belllgerancy. which.
while adding To the already onorous
burdens OF neutrality within our own
Jurisdiction, could not In any way ex.
tend our influence or effective Offices ln
the trritory OF hoatlities. Nothing
has Hace occurred to change my view
In this regard, and I recognize as fully
now as then that the Issuance an q
proclamation Of neutrality. from which
the process the so-called recognition
OF belligerance Is published. could o.,
linnlF aud ffuuffauNnT Iu 90 49, ..sf...