Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-02-26
CUBA'S PEACE PROSPECT
Il May be in an Armistice Between the Span
ish and the Insurgents.
WOULD SAVE MANY FROM STARVATION
Spain Would Now Rellnquish All Bat Nom
inal Sovereignty = Cubans Insist ON In
dependence, but May Negotiate for 1t.

dependence, but May Negotiate for 1t.
New York, Feb. 26-In the turmoil
over the Maine disaster internal Cuban
policies are forgotten, says the Havana
correspondent of the Tribune. Never
theless, recent movements promise TO
be as momentois to Spain as the loss
of the American warship. If an unex-
pected discovery should change the
present opinion of 4 e naval experts
that the ship was blown up, and there
by assure continuance of the friendly
relations with the United States. the
domestic problems would not be
changed. Captain General Blanco's en-
barrassments are appalling.
Leaving American Intervention,
whether peaceful or otherwise, out of
mind. the explanation of the failure
Of autonomy would soon take the form
of an official confession. The best COM
mentary on the deadened state of
Spanish authority In Cuba is found in
the absolute Indifference shown toward
the proposals of the radical autonom-
lists.
The meaning of their proposition to
open negotiations with the insurgents
on n new basis is understood in Madrid,
where It is fully discussed. II the
shadow OF an overwhelming sorrow
We're not over the American people, 1t
would be discussed intelligently in the
United States. Yet here In Havana the
departure barely causes passing COM
ment If the insurgents were willing
to content themselves with anything
except complete separation from Spain,
they would find in those concessions
proposed by the radical autonomists a
basis of peace. They would not lay
down their arms until the Spanish
cortes had formally confirmed all the
propositions. They could probably go
further and demand that Spain be
satisfied with the flag alone as the en-
blem of her sovereignty and that they
take possession of the fortresses and
maintain an army and navy of their
own.
Whether they would be willing to
pay even 500 600. 900 OF the debt might
be doubtful. Whether the Spanish min
istry could persuade the Spanish peo-
pie to accept must be judged in Spain
and not here.
But 1t is known that the insurgents
VIII accept no terms not based on ac-
tual independence. That Mr.. Gown, a
member OF the cabinet. should have
been leading spirit in the propositions
is In its way important and increases
the hostility of the intranslgeants to
autonomy and adds to their bitterness
against the government which makes
Gown part of itself. They have never
forgiven him for calling them "birds
of passage" and they are now con-
WINGED that his aim is the destruction
of Spanish sovereignty as the first step
toward full reparation.
While Secretary Gown adds to his
unpopularlty among the intransigeants
n rs nd fgat-
he VIII gain favor with the insurgents.
II may not be correct to characterize
the movement as insincere, yet a fatal
weakness Is the confession in advance
that the insurgents are not expected
to entertain the proposition made to
them. The radical autonomists do not
even expect that actual negotiations
can be opened.
With this feeling possibly there Is
no cause for wonder at the absolute In
difference on the Havana public to the
politics OF the scheme. The Cuban
autonomists by offereing to surrender
the control of the Cuban government
to the insurgents discharge the respon-
sibility which the Madrid ministry has
placed on them of persuading the in
surEents out of existence. The pro-
cedure would be incomprehensible any
where outside OF this island. That II
does not meet with objections from the
NhbiHtN ne IN
terpreted as meaning that the autono-
my OF few months ago Is no longer
the policy of the Spanish liberals.
IT further concessions would result
In an armistice between Spain and the
Insurgents, this blighted island would
be blessed. Many thousands of the in
habitants who are otherwise doomed
TO death by starvation would be saved
Something would be preserved IN the
ruins OF the agriculture of the coun-
try. In spite OF the immense area
OF charred cane fields, large amount
of sugar could be ground and mar
keted
Since he became satisfied there was
not enough commerce left In Cuba to
form the basis of treaty of commerce
between Spain and the United States.
Gomez has been more liberal Several
big plantations which have been in
suspense. and have paid the insurgent
tax, will be allowed to grind The
promise is not of a sugar crop some-
what in excess OF last year. with an
interval of peace 1t would be largely
a fair crop along with a further re-
cuperation of the industrial resources
Of the island Unfortunately Spain
does not know how to reach direct |
OF this kind. Should the |
present menace between her and the |
United Sites be changed inc friendly |
relations. proof of that friendship |
might be shown by asking President |
administration to arrange |
IN armistlce with the insurgents.