The herald., 1898-04-12
BLANCO PROCLAIMS
ORDERING CESSATION OF CUBAN
HOSTILITIES
Insurgents for the Hundredth Time
Refuse to Agree to an Armistice
Without Evacuation

| WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE state des
partment today received General Blanco's
proclamation ordering a cessation of hos
| tilities in Cuba. 1t was cabled to the Span
ish minister here and by him delivered to
the department. The proclamation is as
| follows:
"ds majesty's government, In yielding
to the reiterated wish expressed by his
holiness the pope has been pleased to de-
cree a suspension of hostilities with the OBJ
ject of preparing and facilitating the resto-
| ration of peace on this island in virtue
whereof 1 believe it convenient to order:
ARTICLE 1-From the day following the
receipt in each locality of the present
proclamation, hostilities are ordered to be
suspended in all territory Of the island Of
Cuba.
"The details for the execution of the
above decree will be the object Of specal
instruction that will be communicated to
the several commanders in chief of the
army corps for easy and prompt execution
| according to the situation and circum-
| stances of the case.
| (Signed) "BLANCO."
Positively Declined
NEW YORK, April 1.-THE following
is an extract from a letter written to Con-
sui Barker, United States representative
at Santiago de Cuba by Maxine Gomez,
and will be presented to President McKin-
ley, says the Herald, today:
| zone year ago we received a proposal
| from Spain to agree to an armistice. We
refused then, as we refuse now. The rainy
| season will soon be at hand, and Spain's
| troops would like an armistice until 1t is
| over.
| 1--WE shall throw away no advantage. On
| the other hand, am anxious that hostil-
| tiles shall cease, but 1t must be for all
time. If Spain agrees to evacuate Cuba,
| taking her flag with her, I am willing to
agree to an armistice to last until October.
| when the Cubans shall come into their
| own.
| "Please tell Mr.. Mckinley for me; tell
him, too, that am writing this at the di-
rection of the Cuban provisional govern
ment, with which they may treat directly
should they SO desire.'
Delayed Too Long
NEW YORK April ia dispatch to tho
Herald from Madrid says:
This government will find dts hand
| Strengthened by the patriotic support 1t
will receive from the conservative opposi-
| ton under the leadership Of Senor Slvera,
who has just returned from Paris. While
not yet prepared to discuss the last step
taken by the Ministry, Senior Silvela de-
clared emphatically that he approved of
| it.
"T will go further" he said, II regret
that this government did not grant the
armistice Immediately. as advised by the
tho part of the powers. 1t would have
been even a stronger indication Of their
desire to be guided in the way Of peace.
cannot make any useful statement or
question 1t. 1t is one Of International
politics and is being dealt with diplomatic
ally. Consequently, it is one which can
only be completely treated by those who
know all the data, which no one outside
the circle Of diplomatists dealing with it
can do.
"Of this, however. you may be quite
sure. The government will not be embar-
rassed by any opposition from us. This
is not a question to be used as plank In
any political platform. 1t Is one In which
the nation must be the first consideration,
and we shall do all we can to help the gov
ernment to final solution Of the problem"
Spanish Feeling
MADRID, April 9, via Bayonne, France,
April 11.-While many persons here for sew
eral days past have suspected that some-
thing was brewing. the Cabinets decision
| Saturday (today) to grant an armistice Cor
| a suspension of hostilities) was complete
| surprise to most people and created great
| excitement. 1t was learned this (Satur-
| day. evening that the War and Navy de-
| partments have in no way relaxed their
preparation for the possibility Of hostili-
| ties. 1t is understood they will continue
their work day and night for the present.
| The general tone of the comment here ap-
| pears to be one of disappointment, 1t being
| alleged that the United States Is getting
| everything she asks. The Spanish officials
are throwing oil on the troubled waters by
representing that the government has
simply made submissions to the will of the
Pope, which carries tremendous weight
with the people in this country.
| Some of the diplomats here express the
opinion that the United States is now in q
better position than she would have been
| had Spain accepted the terms outlined in
General Woodford's note presented at the
last conference, which, it is said, only
asked for the immediate cessation of hos
tilities and permission to relieve the recon-
| centrados Both of these requests, 1t is
| pointed out in some quarters, have now
been accepted, and, it is added, General
Woodford has free hand. 1t is further
alleged that his efforts will continue until
one Of the three things happens-the estab-
| lshment of an autonomist government
satisfactory to the insurgents, the recog-
milton of the independence of Cuba by
Spain or the practical annexation of Cuba
| to the United States.