Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-09-23
PL|CATES THINGS
Cuba's Colonial Government Is
Inclined to Make Trouble
For Somebody.
PREFERABLY THE UNITED STATES.
Raises q Lot of Questions That We Rule
Ont Until Evacuation Is Completed
Dons Likely to Hear Something Drop If
They Persist-Secretary Alger Pats in a
Day Looking Over Chickamauga Hos
pitaI-Augusti Talks About Manila

Pital-Augusti Talks About Manila
Washington, Sept. e3.-Omcial dis
patches received by one of the embas-
sizes here from Havana confirm the re-
ports that the colonial government of
the island is taking a hand in shaping
the terms on which the evacuation shall
be executed. This. it is believed here,
may develop some new phass in the
situation in Cuba. The colonial govern
ment was established by Spain shortly
before the war broke out, there being. a
cabinet OF five officers at Havana and a
legislative body with two houses. 1t
carried out in a measure the long pend
ing plan of giving Cuba home rule by
means of an autonomous government.
but while in name autonomous it was
contended by the insurgent element
that genuine home rule was lacking
and that this colonial regime was a
continuance of Spanish domination. 1t
appears, however, that these colonial
authorities are taking a very active
part in the present negotiations, and
that there is more or less cooperation
between them and the Spanish govern
ment.
Condition which Confronts Us.
This creates condition in which the
United States must deal not only with
SFain, but with those who claim to rep
resent the island itself. free from Span
ish control. The colonial, or autono-
mist, administration is very thoroughly
organized, and can exert much infiu-
snce. 1t established a regular legation
at Washington prior to the war, with
several prominent public men of Ha-
vana on the staff. 1t numbers in it's
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.
Likely to Cause n Clash.
1t now seems clear, from the official
as we'll 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 we'll
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 au-
thorities here as the only pont involved.
and there is likely to be a rude awaken
ing If the pro-Spanish element-either
as autonomists or as native Spaniards-
insists upon bringing in the determine
tion of the Cuban debt, future forms of
government rates of tariff for Spain,
and many other subjects, as prelinfi-
nary to evacuation. The United States
commissioners, according to the under
standing here. will insist on a strict ad-
herence to the protocol for an immedi-
ate evacuation of the island, and If need
be will submit an ultimatam against
taking up subsidiary questions on
Cuba's future.