Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-13
PRESIDENT MKISLEY IS STUDYING
VARIOUS PLANS.
NO F0RCIBLE INTERVENTION.
MAY URGE INSURGENTS To ACCEPT
AUTONoMIsT OFFERS. /
Another Proposition Is for the In
surgents to Buy Their IndeDend- !
ence for s2OO,OO0, 600, the
United States Guaran- ,-. :
teeinE Payment.

Chicago, March 12-WiIliam Z. Curtis tel,
egraphed to the Record from Washington
as follows:
"The president and the cabinet are now
. confident that We may escape the. horror.
of war. but they do not propose to permit
any cessation of activity in war prepara-
tion, and the last thing Secretary Algei
did before going to cabinet meeting was &c
sign a contract with the Bethlehem COM
pany for 100 big steel guns The effect in
Spain of the war preparations in the United
States is marked, both upon the govern
ment and the people. The exhibition of ex-
traordinary activity on this side of the
ocean has convinced them that the United
States means business and will teach eau
ton. The president means to find some
peaceable method of settling the difficulties
II he can. and IL there is, a war Spain will
, have to begin II.
For the first time members of the cabinet
are beginning to admit that We are likely
TO take an active part in the Cuban strug-
gle. and, while no plan has been adopted
and none will be adopted until the report
of the Maine board Of inquiry has been re-
ceived, IL is no longer denied that the presf-
dent is about ready to intervene. He does
not propose forcible Intervention, but he
probably will tender his good offices To
both the insurgents and the Spaniards and
ask them to permit him to find some basis
of peace. This will be practically a recog-
milton of the belligerency Of the insurgents.
but the Spanish government cannot COM
plain on that account, because Ii Is known
TO our government that the autonomist
cabinet has been in negotiations with the
leaders in the field for seyeral weeks, en-
deayoring to induce them to surrender and
take part in the elections next month, when
members Of the Cuban legislature are to
be chosen. -ss- 81 ~
1T is not known here how far these ne
gotiations have gone, nor is there much
confidence in their success, although, 1t Is
admitted that in this movement lies the
last hope Of Spain. If the insurgent lead
ers can be induced to engage in the election
and become candidates. or il by any means
they can be persuaded to accept q share in
the present government, the SpaRiards Will
welcome them back as errfng brethren and
offer general amnesty to all who have
been in the field, or have been guilty of po-
ltical offenses Of any sort. -. ~,
THE terms upon which the negotiations
are being conducted are as follows:
'Ffrst-The withdrawal from Cuba OF the
Spanish army; the disbanding of the volun-
teers, and the organization of a new mill
tia. in which the insurgents will be recog-
nized and their officers given honorable
commands. "a EEK =
"second-The absolute pardon Of all po-
litical offenders. ,---.t....
''Third-Three positions in the cabinet to
representatives Of the insurgent party.
''Fourth-The division Of the Cuban debt
into two portions. Cuba to assume 100000
900 and Spain the remainder.
"Fifth-The Cuban cabinet and legislature
to have absolute control of the finances of
the island. the collection of revenues. she
disbursement Of public funds and the resu-
lation of taxes and customs tartfs.
''Sixth-cuba to be relieved Of am ffran-
debt +
Seventh to pay s, ,eo5e@ .psr- an
mum tribute to the crown. ks9s =
Eighth-The crown to appoint the cap
tain general, who shall preside over the
IN case OF tie and the power of veto upon
legislation unless overruled by q two-thfrds
vote of the entire body.
Ninth-Martial law cannot be ordered by
the captain general without the assent of a
majority Of the cabinet or a majority of the
colonial legislature If it happens to be in
'.Tenth-The archbishop of Cuba to be a
native Cuban. =
"Eleventh-Importation from Spain to
have a preferential duty OF 10 per cent less
than similar products from other countries.
THE above is the platform upon which
iiic al Ie lIlSlteu 10 lay DOWN their
arms and attend the elections, and an ar
mistice of fifteen days, seven days before
and seven days after the election is pro-
posed In order that they may have an op-
portunity intelhgently to exercise the right
OF Suffrage. The autonomiSt government in
Havana pledges itself to abide by. the result
OF the election. and of course, that COM
mits the< Spanish ministry to the scheme.
While nothing has been decided upon by
our government. these negotiations offer.
President Mckinley an opportunity for
friendly intervention and to exercise his
influence with the insurgents to persuade
them to accept this olive branch with the
guaranty on the part of the United States
that the Spanish authorities will carry out
abe terms in good faith. > = -
:. IF. such a course is decided upon 1t will
become necessary to send commissioner
into the field for the purpose of comforting
with the insurgent leaders. It Is believed
,by Cuban e2siles here that the civil officials
of the so-ca5led Cuban republic will accept
the terms, although Gomez, Rolof and 9th
er aliens who are now holding commands
9n the insurgent army. and perhaps General
Garcia, will undoubtedly reject them be-
VIII be gone.
while the president has not gone be-
yond discussion IL is believed that he sees
in this plan q possible path to peace and
that he will use every influence in his pow
er to persuade the insurgents to accept II.
II is a very great concession on the part
of Spain. and as i have said is practically
a recognition of the belligerent rights of
the insurgents
Walter Wellman telegraphs as follows to
the Times-Herald from Washington IN re-