The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-23

WASHINGTON, D. C.. Sept 22.-om-
clal dispatches received by one OF the
embassies here. from Havana, confirm
the reports that the colonial government
OF the island Is taking a hand In shap-
Ing the terms on which the evacuation
shall be executed. This, It is believed
here, may develop some new phases in
the situation in Cuba.
The colonial government was estGb-
llshed BY Spain shortly before the war
broke out. there being a cabinet Of five
officers at Havana and a legislative
body with two houses. It carried out in
a measure the long pending plan Of
giving Cuba home rule by means OF an
autonomous government, but while In
name autonomous, 1t was contended by
the ipsurgent element that genuine
home rule was lacking, and that this
colonial regime was O continuance OF
Spanish domination. It appears, how
ever, that these colonial authorities are
taking very active part in the present
negotiations, and that there Is more or
less cooperation between them and
the Spanish government. This creates q
condition In which the United States
must deal, not only in Spain, but with
those who claim to represent the Island
itself free from Spanish control.
The colonial, or autonomlst admins.
tration is very thoroughly organized
and can exert much influence. Il eStab-
lished a regular legation In Washington
prior to the war with several prominent
public men Of Havana on the stan. II
numbers In It's rank much OF the wealth
OF Cuba and claims to stand for the edo
ucated classes as against the insurgents
and illlterates. This makes two distinct
Cuban classes; The Rutohomists, who
are cooperating with Spain, and the
insurgents who are opposed to Spain.
1t now seems clear from the official as
well as the press reports from Havana
and Madrid that the autOnomist ele-
ment Is taking up the claim first adj
vnnced by Spain that many incidental
questions as to Cuba must be settled be-
fore the evacuation begins. But the
view among government officials here
Is that the Cuban autonomists, as well
as the Spanlards, have no questions to
advance or settle before evacuation Is
determined upon. The time and place
OF evacuation Is looked upon by the
authorities here as the only point In
volved and there Is likely TO be rude
awakening II the pro-Spanlsh element,
either as autonomists or as native
Spnniards, insist upon bringing IN the
determination Of the Cuban debt. future
forms Of government, rates of tarlH for
Spain and many other subjects, as a
preliminary to evacuation.
The American commissioners, accord
ing 20 the understanding here. Will In
sIst on a strict adherence TO the proto-
col for an Immediate evacuation OF the
island, and II need he will submit an ul-
tImntum against taking up Subsidiary
questions on Cnba's future.
While the Cuban colonial government
Is thus combining with the Spanish gov
ernment In bringing forward these Incl
dental questions. yet the opinion was
EXPRESSED to-day by high diplomatic
officer based on recent advices from
Havana, that serious issue would be
inverted and that the actual evacuation
OF the Spanish troops from Cuba would
begin with the next month. But It ap-
pears that the evacuation will cover a
much longer time than has been antici-
pated. There are some 100000 Spanish
troops In the island. Allowing 1000
men on a transport and q vessel leaving
every day, Il would take one hundred
DAYS or over three months for the evac-
uation, But the vessels are not avail
able for trip every day for one hum
dred consecutive days, 30 that the time
for departure would probably far eX-
ceed three monthB.