The Red Cloud chief., 1898-03-25
THEMAINECASEF FIRST
CUBA'S INDEPENDENCE TO
BE SECONDARY.
A Diplomatic Settlement to bc Hoped for
Cabinet Members Say Congress Must
Share the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
spain's Torpedo Boat FIotiia.

New YORK, Masch e1.-"While the
Maine disaster is inseparably linked
with the general Cuban question:"
says the Washington correspondent of
the New York Herald, IL was assured
by c member Of the cabinet that the
President would deal with the former
automatically, before making repre-
sensations to Spain concerning the
indel 'ndcnce of Cuba. The blowing
up Of the Maine is TO be used us an
additional and final argument rs TO
why u speedy end should be brought
TO the war In Cuba.
president Mckinley is anticipating
n decision which will show the main
cause OF the disaster to have been duo
TO an outside explosion and that the
court will be unable to show what
person or persons committed the
crime. A cabinet member told mo that
while the President was preparing to
make diplomatic representations to
Spain on an indemnity basis he was
not unmindful of the possibilities Of n
finding by the court which would make
war Unavoidable, and that the extra
ordinary military aud naval prepare
lions were consequently begun.
This official told me that only a
decision showing positively direct
connection OF Spanish officials with
the Maine disaster would prevent the
President from carrying out his deter
mination to deal with the Maine catas
tropho in n strictly legal and diplo-
matte way. 1t may be further stated
that the President hopes aud expects
that this matter can be adjusted diplo.
matically.
II am informed that /. Is now the
purpose OF the President 10 make Con.
gress jointly responsible for n &C.
ton in dealing with the general
Cuban question which may result in
war. lie believes that the iadcrcnd.
ence of Cuba is written in the book oil
fate. He further believes that the
blowing up OF the Maine makes it i'm.
pcrative upon this country TO dosome.
thing at tho earliest date possible &c
end the war in Cuba, but he is not
convinced as to the best means OF do
ing this without bringing on war.
He has said that he will not be re,
sponsible for an 'unholy war II the
United States is TO be made RESPONSE
BILE for precipitating 4 war he desires
that Congress shall share the rcspon.
sibility with him.
"Instead Of issuing n proclamation
recognizing the independence Of Cuba,
rs it has been frequently asserted he
would, President Mckinley is now o.
tho opinion that Congress should take
the initiative. 1t is for that reason
that the administration has changed
its program in favor of EN- early nd,
journment. l am assured that the
President TO- wants Congress to stay
here until the Cuban question is in q
fair way to settlement There Is nc
further doubt that the holding of tho
Spanish torpedo flotilla at the Canar
les and the withdrawal OF tho battl,
ships from the vicinity of Cuba, wa.
the result of an agreement reached by
the Washington and Madrid govern
uents
The fact that Rear Admiral SicarC
has with him at Key West a fcrnid
able squadron, is due to the desire o
the authorities to have n strong flee
there when the report Of the court o
inquiry is read and the result of the
policy to be inaugurated by the Pres!
dent has made itself apparent
at has been determined by the OH
Gals to continue the sharp watcl
which has been kept on the Spanisi
torpedo boat f~lotilla, and should the,
attempt to move to Porto Rico Il
make q vigorous protest to SpaiI
looking toward orders for their i'm
mediate return to tho Canaries. !
Spain should refuse to comply will
these representations the plan pre-
pared by the officials contemplates no
only the formation of o flying squad
ron, but the dispatch OF cruiseas to in
tcrcept the torpedo :lotilla and de
stroy it"