The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-12

affairs, observing such reticence on GER
tain phases as diplomatic prOpriety re
quired. Since the minister's arrival he
has received a cablegram from Captain
General Blanco stating that the Cuban
cabinet had designated Senior SevaIlios,
of New York, and Barilla, secretary Of
the Havana chamber of commerce, to
act with Senior AnguIo in negotiating
commercial treaty between the United
States and Cuba. The minister refer
red incidentally to this fact, as he re-
garded it as another evidence of the
complete autonomy which Spain had
granted to Cuba. Although Senior Polo
will be the plenipotentiary in arranging
a Cuban treaty, the Cuban delegates
above named by the Cuban cabinet viii
have entire control of the terms OF
such a treaty
Spain in giving autonomy to Cuba, the
minister said:
"The government has granted auto
nomy on the broadest and most liberal
lines. 1t is designed to give to the
Cuban people the complete direction OF
their internal affairs, thus gratifying
the honorable ambition of the Cubans,
the historic allegiance of Cuba as a
colony of Spain. The government IS
not executing this plan grudgingly or
with any technical restrictions On
the contrary, it appreciates that the
largest degree of prosperity for the is
land may be expected from such a
measure OF reform as Will meet the
cherished expectations of CubanS loyal
to Spain. Already much has been ac-
complished, and there is the fullest con-
fdence that the plan will be carried
into full execution. Naturally, with
an insurrection dragging towards its
close. there are difficulties in the way OF
a complete realization of plans so com
prehenSiVe as to embrace the entire IN
ternaI machinery of Cuba. The auto
nomist' ca binet is organized, and in It's
hands is the direction of domestic at
fairs of the island. pending the meet
ing of the Cuban parliament Ihe
dates for the parliamentary elections
and for the assembling Of the the SEN
ate and house have been fixed as Senor
MOret minister of the colonies told me
Just as I was about to sail that the de-
cree fixing the date of the election in
Cuba was about to be signed. With the
elections held, Cuba will have for the
first time parliament of her own, ca
pabIe of dealing with all her domestic
affairs Thus complete plan of local
government will be in operation with
an executive branch and a legislative
branch. The full meaning of this
should be appreciated.
THE governor general, who is the
representative of Spain in Cuba will no
longer govern in the complete sense,
but it would be more accurate to say
that he will reign under the restrictions
placed on a constitutional executive.
The naming of Cuban delegates to come
to Washington and arrange a CONNER
cial treaty shows how fully the plan Of
autonomy grants to the CubanS control
of their own affairs. These delegates
will have in their own hands the max
ing of this tariff arrangement and
without them I could do nothing. In
short Spain has adopted this plan of
autonomy, believing it to be the surest
means of bringing peace and prosperity
to the island, and it is putting the plan
into operation with the utmost dis
patch. confident that in the end it will
accomplish the good purpose for which
it was designed
When Senor Polo's attention was
drawn to the recent critical phases of
the Spanish situation he spoke with
much reserve. The Lee incident hap
pened while he was on the ocean, and
he knew nothing, he said of the cir
cumstances, although he felt confident
a misunderstanding had grown out of
some casual illusions to General Lee
not meant as an intimation that his
recall was desired
The minister was then asked if he
viewed the present condition of affairs
between the United States and Spain