The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-22
RLANco's OFFERS TO GOMEZ.
Inspired to Conceal Military Weak
ness of Spain.

Havana, March Zl-MOre importance is
given here to the final efforts of the
radical autonomists to negotiate with
Gomez and the insurSent leaders on q
new basis than its certain outcome war
rants, than is given TO the Maine inves-
LEGATION.
The chief interest is in the knowledge
that the negotiations are, in fact,
Rlanco's, and that if they are enter
tanned in any form they will be clothed
with a full official character. \ few
officials profess confidence that Gomez
and the other insurgent leaders will at
least permit the propositions to be
made, ard will then dictate their own
terms under which SPANS flag may re-
main. No ground whatever exists for
this delusion. Gomez has already given
an indication of his answer. The insur-
gents will treat with Blanco's repre-
sentative only on the basis of independ-
ence. With that understanding they
win agree to an arnistice while the
good Offices Of the United States are
employed in arranging an indemnity
and other details under which Spain
might be willing to withdraw her
troops and abandon the island.
THE government cropping in circle,
is the phrase applied to the final effort
to make terms with the insurgents. 1t
does not go fast enough to travel. Prob
ably the best thing for all parties is to
have the failure of the attempted ne
gotiations with Gomez made known
promptly and emphatically. If there
were faint prospect of success, this
could only come through double-deal-
ing.
The Is propositions of Giberga and
Gown are still the basis of all offers
made to the insurgents. Among these
is included the disarming of the volun-
teers. This organization holds the
written assurance of General Parade,
authorized by Captain General Blanco,
that no such idea viii be entertained.
The SaSasta ministry in Madrid en-
dorsed this statement. The volunteers
are petted. They are now taking part
in the regular maneuvers of the army,
as well as in the artillery practice.
They could not be diSarmed without
revolution, and the attempt will never
be made. Nevertheless, the insurgents
have been asked to accept a scheme OF
enlarged autonomy, of which the dis
armament of the volunteers is part of
the programme. They will not be fooled,
nor viii the volunteers be fooled. The
deception was meant to be practiced on
the United States, in seeking to make
it a party to the negotiations, and IN
a measure responsible for their failure.
That was the policy of the palace in
L
adopted here had it not been acceptable
in Madrid.
Consul General Leesis making reports
to the state department en- this mat
ter. They are based on full and au-
thentic information. General Lees re-
port shows that the United States
would be powerIess to persuade the in
to accept "amplified auton-
omy." Government officials here have
been making anxious inquiries regard
ing the feeling of the administration on
this point, and also whether American
public sentiment would sustain media
ton os that kind. They have received
answers.
The problem which now confronts
General Blanco is to conceal his mill |
t&ry weakness, which must inevitably |
be exposed when the failure of the
last attempt to negotiate with the in
is known. General Pando. |
next IL command, is along the line of /
the Jucaro- Moron trocha- II Gomez .
ard Calixto Garcia were willing to treat /
for anything short of independence, /
Pando's presence would be convenient. |
AS the military commander, it is in
for he must meet the re-
sponsibility of a situation which finds !
the insurgents in Puerto Principe prov
nce ready to cross the trocha and take |
part in march westward.