Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-21
SEMI-oFFIClAL ADMISSIONS.
Finding Of the Spanish Board viii be With
View 10 Securing Arbitration.
RELATIONS WITH CUBAN INSURGENTS.
Statement that the Schemes of Autonomy
and Mediation are on the Verge
of IA Hopeless Collapse.

New hOrk, Mafcn Gl.--A ulspatcn "
the Tribune from Havana says:
The Spanish inquiry into the Maine
disaster has gone to pieces in seeking
the accident theory.
This admission is privately made in
government circles. The nature of the
The explosion will be charged to I'M
known causes. but the Spanish find
ing will be with view of making
case to be passed on by "A third party
The work of their divers has not been
thorough. Apparently they have
found so little evidence on which a
theory of Internal explosion can be
based that the Spanish court is not
wiling to stand unequivocally on the
theory of accident which 1t set out
to maintain. The facts have been
known for three or four days.
This may account for statements
from Madrid that the Maine incident
will not be cause of war between the
two countries and also for hints at an
bitrating the disputes on the question
of fact. This talk is semi otficial. The
Spanish authorities realize the improb-
ability Of successfully controverting
the case which will be presented when
the report of Captain Sampson and
associates on the American board of
inquiry is published.
They have had an inkling that the
evidence on which an external explo-
sion due to foul play will be charged
is meant to satisfy, not simply the
American people. hut the. Judgment
of experts throughout the world How
strongly this conclusion of the Ameri-
can board is fortified will soon be
known. The cue received from Mad
rid is to have a counter case ready
so that suspension of the worlds
Judgment can be asked until diplo-
macy can arrange satisfactory set
tlement. The evident hope of Blanco's
government is to keep the Maine Incl
dent entirely distinct from the other
Cuban questions.
Notwithstanding this lack of conf
dence in their own theory of accident,
1t cannot be learned that the authorl-
ties are doing anything to uncover the
oonspirators who were responsible for
blowing up the Maine, More import
ance Is given to the final effort of the
radical antonomists to negotiate with
Gomez and the insurgent leaders on
new basis than its certain outcome
warrants.
The chief interest is in the knowl-
edge that the negotiations are in fact
Blanco's, and that If they are enter
tained in any form they win be clothed
with full official character. A few
officials profess confidence that Gomez
and the other insurgent leaders will
at least permit the propositions to be-
made and will then dictate their own
terms under which Spains flag may re-
main. No ground whatever exists for
this delusion. Gomez has already given
an indication of his answer The in
surgents Will treat with Blanco's rep
resentative only on the basis of indie
pendence. with that understandings
they will agree to an armistice, while
the good offices of the United States
are employed in arranging an indemni-
ty 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
Probably the best thing for all parties
is to have the failure OF the attempted
negotiations with Gomez made known
promptly and emphatiCally. If there
We're faint prospect Of success. this
could only come through double deal
ing.
The fifteen propositions of Giberga
and Gown are still the basis of all OF
fers made to the insurgents. Among
these is included the disarming of the
volunteers. This organization holds
the written assurance of General Par
RADIO. authorized by Captain Genera,
Blanco, that no such idea will be enter
tanned The Sagasta ministry in Ma
drid Endorsed the statement. The vol
Ing 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
VIII never be made. Nevertheless. the
insurgents have been asked to accent
scheme of enlarged autonomy, of
which the disarmament of the volun-
teers is part of the program. They
will not be fooled, nor will the volun-
teers be fooled.
The deception was ment to be prac-
ticed on the United States. in seeking
to make 1t party to the negotiations
and In n manner responsible for their
failure. That was the policy of the
palace In Havana. 1t would hardly
have been adopted here had IL not been
acceptable in Madrid
The autonomist cabinet, or the radical
members of 1t. will not be left entirely
alone to serve as scrapagoats. Gen. Sa-
lano, chief of the general STAFF, while
not endorsing all the articles in the
program of final concessions to the in
surgents, has approved 1t In the main.
He favored inviting Gomez to take part
IN the new Cuban government that was
to be formed, with the Spanish flag as
about the only thing left to Spain.
A few other officers of high rank who
are devoted to the monarchy. sympa-
thize with Salano, and would Join him
in making the sacriflc which these con-
cessions would demand, The majority
of the army officers. however. would re-
was chance of their acceptance by
the insurgents, just as they revolted In