The Iola register., 1898-09-30
SITUATION IN CUBA.
The Spanish Evacuation of the Is
land Will Take Some Months.
AUTJNONISTS WANT TO FIX TERMS.
they Claim That Many Incidental Ones
tions Must Be settled Before Evacus-
tiOn Begins-American Com mission
ers May submit an UltimAtum.

Washington, Sept. 23.-0tficial dis.
patches received by one of tine en-
bassies here from Havana confirm the
reports that the colonial government
of the islands is taking 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 established by Spain
shortly before the war broke out
there being cabinet of five officers
Mt Havana, and Legislative.
body with two houses. 1t carried
out in measure the long pend
ing plan of giving Cuba home rule
by means of an autonomous govern
ment, but while in name autonomous.
IL was contended by the insurgent ele-
ment that genuine home rule was lack
ing and that this colonial regime was.
continuance of Spanish domination.
1t appears, however that these colo
nial authorities are taking a very ac-
tive part in the present negotiations,
and that there is more or less cooper
alton between them and the Spanish
government. This creates condition
in which the United States must deal
not only with Spain, but with those.
who claim to represent the island
itself free from Spanish control
The colonial, or autonomist, admin
istration is very thoroughly organized
and can exert much influence. II es-
tablished regular legation in Wash
ington prior to the war, with several
prominent public men of Havana on.
the staff. 1t numbers in its ranks
much of the wealth of Cuba, and
claims to stand for the educated classes
as against the insurgents and litter
ates. This makes two distinct Cuban
classes-the autonomists, who are CO.
operating with Spain, and the insur-
gents, who are opposed to Spain.
1t now seems clear from the official
as well as the press reports from Ha-
vana and Madrid, that the autonomist
element is taking up the claim first ad
vanced by Spain, that many incidental
questions as to Cuba must be settled
before the evacuation begins. But the
view among government officials here
is that the Cuban autonomists, as well
as the Spaniards, 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 a rude.
awakening IL the pro-Spanish element,
either as autonomists or as native
| Spaniards, insists upon bringing in,
the determination of the Cuban debt,
future form of government, rates of
tariff for Spain and many other sub
jects as a preliminary to evacuation.
The American commissioners, accord
ing to the unders standing here, will in
sist on a strict adherence TO the proto-
col for an immediate evacuation of the
island, aud, il need be, will submit an.
ultimatum against taking mp subsid-
iary questions of Cuba's future.
While the Cuban colonial govern
ment is thus combining with the Span
ish government in bringing forward
these incidental questions, yet the
opinion was expressed yesterday by a
high diplomatic officer, based on re-
cent advices from Havana, that a seri-
Gus issue would be averted and that
the actual evacuation of the Spanish
troops from Cuba would begin within
the next month. But it appears that
the evacuation will cover much
longer time than has been anticipated.
There are some 100 600 Spanish troops,
in the island. Allowing 1000 men on
transport and vessel leaving every
day, IL would take 100 days, or over
three months for the evacuation. But
the vessels are not available for trip
every day for 100 consecutive days, so
that the time for departure would
probably far exceed three months.