Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-04
UNCLE SAM NEGOTIATING WITH THE
INSURGENTS.
ARRANGING FOR A SETTLEMENT
1T Is PROPOSED TO FORCE INDE.
PENDENCE on A MONEY BASIS.
President and the Cabinet Discuss
PInns for Guaranteeing the War
Dcbt-MOre Warships Are
to BE Sent to the
Island.

Washington, Feb. 5.-Secret negotiations
are now actually in progress between the
state department and the insurgents in
Cuba looking to a stoppage of the war on
some financial basis. to be agreed upon
hereafter. President Mckinley has not
yet recognized the insurgents as belliger-
ents, and he cannot, therefore, treat with
them openly. as he would do with diplo-
matte representative of an independent
nation.
During the last administration Minister
Palma and Secretary Quesada. representing
the Cuban republic, maintained headquar-
ters here and in New York, but were never
openly received at the state department.
With the incoming of the new adminstra-
tion all this was changed and the delegates
from Cuba have been received, unofcially,
OF course. but none the less effectually.
Soon after the president was inaugurated
Mr.. Atkins the Boston sugar planter, who
has large interests in the immediate vicin-
ity OF Havana, and who was 4 power be-
hind the throne with Secretary Olney and
President Cleveland. sought for and OBJ
tanned several interviews with Mr.. Mckin-
ley. He advised conservative action, and in
this was strongly backed up by Secretary
Long. Within the last few weeks MIR. At
llns has experienced change of heart,
has become convinced that autonomy is
failure, and has eXerted his influence In a
direction opposite to that of six months
ago. He may or may not have been re-
sponsible for the firm stand in sending the
Maine to Havana. but his influence has
been felt directly in reopening the question
of forcing independence on a financial
basis.
Direct communication has been had with
in the last few weeks between the insurg
ent government and the administration
here. The insurgents have expressed per-
feet Willingness to assume reasonable
share of the Spanish bonds issued against
the Cuban revenues. The proposition has
been considered with some favor and the
president and his cabinet have discussed
several plans for guaranteeing the Cuban
debt on the sole basis of independence.
These negotiations have gone side by
side with the gradual massing of the ships
of the North Atlantic within striking dis
tance of Cuba. Orders We're sent yesterday
to the cruiser Montgomery to sail at once
for the harbor of Matanzas, and the ship
IS likely to be there quite as unexpectedly
as the Maine arrived in Havana. The Or
ders issued to its commander contemplate
a report direct TO Consul Brice, at Matan-
ZaS where there has been some indication
of rioting. Should everything be found
peaceable the ship will proceed TO Santiago
de Cuba, but should affairs look threaten
ing at Matanzas another ship Will quietly
be slipped to the latter port. and before
Captain General Blanco knows what Is
happening to him American ships will be
in the harbOr of every important port In
Cuba.
This gradual occupation of the island
by a naval force is understood to be part
and parcel OF the negotiations with the
insurgents. When they are concluded, il
everything goes on well, the United States
will be in a position to offer Spain heavy
financial bonus for giving up the island.
while at the same time the insurgents
would find themselves in position to
make n junction with the United States
naval forces at any one of half dozen
different ports.
The fact is that the Montgomery has
beer sent to MatanZas at the request of
the state department. Assistant Secretary
| Day asked Secretary Long to give the nee
essary instructions. A Cablegram was this
afternoon sent by the state department
| to Consul Brice at Matanzas notifying him
that the Montgomery is now en- route 10
| that port and directing him to make the
| necessary arrangements for its reception.
Although il is not admitted by the state
| department officials. the impression pre-
| walls that Consul Brice. in advising the
| department of the recent riots occurring
in MatanZas, suggested that warShip
| should be Immediately sent there for the
| protection of American interests. The fact
that the state department requested that
! the Montgomery be sent strengthens this
| belief.
The sending of the Montgomery to Ma
| tanZas is regarded here as of equal i'm
| ship Maine to Havana. An outbreak by
| the populace or demonstration against
| Americans would be serious at one place
| as the other.