The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-23
ANOTHER PARTY.
Has Appeared in Connection With
Evacuation of Cuba


Washington, Sept. 23.-Omcia1 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 phases in the
situation in Cuba
The colonial government was estab-
ished by the Spanish shortly before the
war broke out, there being a cabinet of
five officers at Havana and a legislative
body with two houses. It carried out
in a measure the long pending plan of
giving Cuba home rule by means of an
autonomous government, but while in
names autonomous, it was commended
by the inSurgent element that genuine
home rule was lacking and that this
colonial regime was a continuance of
Spanish domination. 1t appears, how
ever, 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 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 autonomous administration
is very thoroughly organized and can
exert much influence. 1t established
a regular legation in Washington prior
to the war, with several prominent pub
lie men of Havana on it's staff. It
numbers in it's ranks much of the
wealth of Cuba, and claims to stand for
the educated classes as against the in
surgents and illiterates.
It 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 claims first adj
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 autOnOnlists, 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 point involved
and there is likely to be a rude awaken
ing if the pro-Spanish element, either as
autonOmists or as native Spaniards, in
sist upon bringing in the determination
of the Cuban debt, future forms of gov
eminent, rates of tariff for Spain, and
many other subjects, as a preliminary
sioners, according to the understanding
here, will insist on a strict adherence
to the protocol for an immediate evac-
uatiOn of the island, and if need be, will
submit an ultimatum against taking up
subsidiary questions of Cuba's future
While the Cuban colonial government
is thus combining with the Spanish gov
eminent in bringing forward these Incl
dental questions, yet the opinion is ex-
pressed by a high diplomatic officer,
based on recent adviceS from Havana,
that a serious issue would be averted.
and that the actual evacuation of the
Spanish troops from Cuba would begin
within the next month. But it an
pears that the evacuation will cover a
much longer time than has been
anticipated. There are some one hun
bred thousand Spanish troops in the is
land. Allowing 1000 men on a trans
port and vessel leaving every day, it
would take 100 days, or over three
months for the evacuation. But the
vessels are not available for a trip ev-
cry day for 100 consecutive days, so
that the time for departure would prob
ably far exceed three months