The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-20
PANDO WOULD CONFER
INSURGENTS TO BE ASKED FOR
ONLY $2,OOO,0OO ANNUALLY.
NOT THOUGHT INSURGENTS WILL ACCEPT
Plan Of Gomez and Garcia After Their Refusal
of Pando's Offer--n Event of Refusal
Intervention of United States
May Be Necessary.
May Be Necessary.

May Be Necessary.
Havana, via Key West, Fla, March
19-News has just reached this corre-
spondent from authentic sources that
the autonOmist government, backed by
the military authorities here and the
government at Madrid is now planning
its last card to secure peace in Cuba,
and prevent interruption on the part Of
the United States.
The Spanish commander, General
PandO, with General Ramirez, CharveZ
and other generals, is within few miles
of General CaliXtO Garcia. General
Gomez is west of the Jucaro- Moron
trocha, within easy reach.
All the insurgent generals, President
Mass0 and the insurgent officials, with
General Garcia, got through General
PandO's lines some time ago, and the
latter gav6 UP the campaign. which
was to be Il grand military coup dc grace
in the province of Santiago de Cuba or
province of Puerto Principe But, in
addition to passing through the trocha,
the insurgents turned General pando's
flank. 1t is just possible that this flank
movement was winkcd at by General
Ps,ndO for the purpose of attempting to
carry out his ulteriOr political pur-
poses.
Such was the position of all concerned
when the last adviccs were received at
the palace in Havana.
General pando's purpose to further,
which he has ordered II practical armis~
! ?.
STATED succincuy as follows:
TO have personal conference with
General CaliXtO Garcia, President Mas
so and other insurgents, and even with
General Gomez, if possible, and to
make them a formal offer Of autonomy,
according to the programme drawn up
by the Left or Radical wing of that
party. .-....-..
As previously cabled. this offer in
cludes, in return for the ending of the
insurrection, the disarmament and dis
banding of all volunteers commercial
treaties to he concluded without Span
iSh interference; maximum sum of
$2,OOO,OO0 annually to be paid TO Spain
by Cuba. as the latter's nominal suzer-
rain; no insurgents to be shot or i'm
prisOned on account of the existing in
surrectiOn. and no insurgents to be sent
as prisoners out of Cuba for future
political offences.
The adviceS received here are in sub
stance. that General Iando felt confident
of securing the conference, while on
the other hand Captain General Blanco,
Secretary General Congosto and the
Spanish staff officers of high rank, and
many Radical members of the autOnO-
mist government. felt sure that the pro-
position, being the best ever offered,
and assuring practical independence
would be declared at an end, and that
consequently all excuse for the inter
vention by the United States would he
ended
Such views, however, were not held,
when this dispatch was sent, by those
best acquainted with General Gomez
and his staff, nor by the Spanish Cuban
merchants, bankers. editors or lawyers,
the best class in Havana The latter
were sure that nothing but the pronosi-
tion of Monte CriStO, (tfc granting of an
indemnity to Spain, but absolute indie
pendence for Cuba would ever he con-
sidered by General Gomez or any of
his principal followers.
In support of the latter view it is
officially announced that after all the
efforts near Manzanillo. only two pri-
Yates of Salvador RuiZ's band sur
rendered.
1t is known beside, that General Pan
do, in order to advance his plans for the
proposed campaign in Santiago de CubT,
greatly weakened all the trochas. taking
from them several thousand mch and
much artillery.
1t lis regarded as certain. in we'll in
formed circle here, that General Co
mez and Garcia, after refusing to con
fer with General Pand0, or il they do
confer, after refusing the terms offered
will take sufficient cattle and provisions
from the comparatively well stocked
ranches Immediately west and then i'm
augurate a raid upon the provinces of
Matanzas, Havana, and probably Pinar
del Rio, appearing near hcTV within
fifteen or eighteen days, which Is con-
sidered possible.
Letters received here from prominent
autOnomiSts in the provinces OF Santa
Clara and Puerto Principe have been
shown to this correspondent, The writ
ars are not favorable to the United
States: they still cling to the theory of
autonomy and class as false the asser-
tions that the Spanish soldier are sun
paid and unfed, and living in towns.
while their officers are cOnspiring against
the autonomst government and refuse
TO take the field. either denying the
nresence of the insurgents or saying let
the troops who are in favor of autonomy
fight its battles.
Other letters from the same source in