The silver lance., 1898-04-15
SPAIN-S NEW MOVE.
Orders Blanco to Grant an Armlstice
to tho Insurgents.

to tho Insurgents.
Washington. April 1O.-The Spanish
government. through its minister at
Washington, Senor Polo y Bernabe, to-
night delivered an important official
document to the State Department,
stating that the armistice which the
queen regent of Spain had commanded
General Blanco to proclaim to-day, was
without conditions; that her majesty's
government had granted liberal insti-
tutions to the island of Cuba which the
coming Cuban Parliament would
adopt; recalling the coincidence and
sympathy expressed by the queen re-
gent and her government on the disas-
ter of the Maine. and the horror this
disaster had occasioned in Spanish
hearts, and appealing to the courtesy
and sense of justice of the United
States government to enlighten public
opinion upon the attitude of Spain.
The note also repeats the offer of the
Spanish government to submit the
Maine question to experts designated
by the maritime nations of the world.
This document was the official notifi-
cation of the Spanish government to
the United States government of the
granting of an armistice and its essen
ial terms. The note was received by the
State Department afeer the Cabinet
meeting, and was one of the main sub
iects of consideration at the second
Cabinet meeting held tonight.
During Senor Polos call at the State
Department he notified the authorities
hat word had come from Havana that
General Blanco had been prompt in ex-
acutinR the orders of the queen regent,
and that the proclamation of the arms
tice had been promulgated to-day. The
+ 1. -,
4 complete cessation of all Spanish hos
tilities throughout the island. The
Spanish troops WILL for the first time.
20 into garrison. Their future dispo-
sition has not yet been even considered
for much depends upon the duration of
the armistice and the course Of the in
surgents. If the insurgents continue
their fighting and make attacks on the
Spanish troops the situation will become
complicated. for it is hardly believed
that the Spanish forces will lay down
their arms for any length of time if
they continue to be under fire from
the insurgents.
The attitude of the insurgent advis-
ers at Washington is that of rejecting
the armistice. Senor Quesada of the
junta declared to-day that the armis-
tlce was simply Spanish trick. de-
signed 10 create the impression that the
insurgents were unreasonable. From
his standpoint nothing short of indepen-
dence will satisfy the Cubans. 1t re-
mains to be seen how far General
Gomez and the insurgents in the field
entertain this view. If they also reject
the armistice Spain is not likely to con-
tinue 1t, and the resort to arms will
continue as it has been doing during
the last three years
1t is not believed that the announce
ment of Spain's concessions will pre-
vent the sending to Congress tomorrow
of the Presidents message. 1t may be
slightly changed so as 10 recommend
that Spain be given time to try the new
experiment.
After the meeting. one member of the
Cabinet said that the Spanish note had
not altered either the message or the
situation. 1T Is merely" said he,
what Spain has been asking for all
along-more time. 1t does not touch
the situation, and the Presidents mes
sage is left precisely as 1t was. merely
stating the fact of the latest develop
ment."