The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-31
PURCHASE OF CUBA.
Another Revival OF the Old PROPOSE
LONESOME of the Conditions.

WASHINGTON, March @.-Ihe POST
says:
ne latest move toward securing this
independence Is a proposition which mas
poen made 10 Spain looking TO the sale
of Cuba TO the insurgents This is the
old purchase scheme revived in a new
form. II is based on the reported state
ments of Gomez, the Cuban leader that
the Insurgents Will be willing 70 pay
5000 600 for the independence OF the
island. but there is no doubt that repre-
sensations have been made 10 Spain that
her agreement TO sell the island would
be happy solution OF the NeNauous
problem. IL is stated that the conference
watch Minister WoOdford held with Sc
nor Sagasta. the Spanish Prime Minister.
at Madrid yesterday was In regard 70
this proposition. and the President anti
cipated last night definite answer. Up
% midnight however. nothing had ar
rived which evidenced that Spain had
agreed 10 sell the island. although It
was reported In administration circles
that satisfactory progress was being
made.
As already stated. the plan is the old
purchase scheme revived. with some
changes. II is fathered by Mr.. John j.
| McCoOk who will arrive in Washington
this morning and may be expected 10 do
all ia his power to secure its adoption.
| As IL now stands the plan does not in
| clude the guarantee Of tho Cuban bonds
by the United States but the money Will
| be furnished by fnanciers in New York.
| LONDON Paris and Madrid. The Ameri-
| can. English. French and Spanish hnan-
ciers. according to this plan, will each
| take $50 900 OF the bonds. the Spaniards
| asking representation in the syndicate
| on account Of the large interests which
| Spain has in tho island. No details OF the
| proposed scheme seem TO have been
| worked out, but 10 Is supposed that the
| United States will be asked 10 supervise
! the collection Of the revenues. OF course
the United states could not allow either
| France or England 10 participate In the
| management OF the affairs Of the island
Cor this would be equivalent 20 a second
edition OF Egypt 40 the very door Of this
country
Il is believed that such a solution OF
the Cuban question as IS here proposed
would meet the approval Of Congress
| IL would give the Cubans their independ
| cuce at AN inexpensive figure compare
| lively speaking for the interest OF
500 600 600 could be easily paid out Of th'
| revenues Of the island and a sinking funC
also created. besides which the admins
trative expenses Of the new CubaT
Government could be met without
difficulty. II Is not yet known whether
Spain will agree 10 part with her terri
tory and withdraw her flag from thu
western hemisphere. The Spanish Minis
ter here has been quoted as saying tina
his Government will not agree 10 sci
| the island and II Is also felt that tn
popular feeling IN Spain would be agains
| such step. At the same time. groa
pressure will undoubtedly be brought 4
bear upon the Queen Regent and he
| Cabinet Council by the European power
/ 10 accept the offer aud this pressure ma
be successful II Spain realizes that sh
has lost the island anyway and tina
this Is a good opportunity 10 replete he
empty treasury. while al the same tim
avoiding war she may accept. The pro
position IS certainly under consideration
II Spain should reject these overtures-
and Il may be stated parenthetically tina
| all the various schemes for peace hav
been made by this Government 20 Spain
and that no proposition has been orere
| BY the latter Countrywide President vii
thea send TO Congress his message an
nouncing the fact. and lay the respon
sihility FOR future action upon the leg
islative branch OF the Government. Thi
Is the last scheme that will be tried
Recognition OF independence. liberal au
tonomy. an armistice. and all other sug
| gestions have come TO naught, and II TIL
also proves futile the President wi
make no further effort.
In these latest considerations for
peaceful solution OF the Cuban question
the destruction OF the Maine and III
sacrifice OF her crew are not oein
taken into account. Neither have tn
representatives OF the insurgents bee
consulted up 10 this time. Senior Palma
OF the New York Junta. came TO Wash
ington yesterday morning. but he d.
not see the President. nor has any con
ference been held with him as 10 tn
view which the insurgents may take O
the proposed purchase. Senior Palma
however. IS quoted as willing at this tim
TO admit that the purchase OF Cuba wi
DC accepted by the insurgents. Seno
Ouesada OF the Washington Junta. sal
last night that all that the insurgent
asked was the recognition OF the inde
incidence OF Cuba. I'VE do not wan
armed Intervention" said ne. NOR d
we ask the United states TO take an
radical step. The recognition Of the indie
pendence OF Cuoa will end the war an
give us victory. This Is all we ask o
| .ho rTrftaI lfa.ea