The Saint Paul globe., 1898-04-07
JUNTA CRIES TREACHERY
SERIOUS CHARGES ARE MADE
BY THE INSURGENTS

d LIE 1NOU hQEN10
Understanding Between Madrid and
Washington, Alleged by Mr.. Ru-
bens, Which Has for It's Object
the Forcing of Autonomy Upon
the Cubans-It VIII Be Resisted,
If Necessary, by Force of Arms.
NEW YORK, April 6.-The Cuban
junta, through It's counsel Horatio S.
Rubens, made an important statement
today. It declared in the most un-
equlvocal language that the Cuban pro-
Visional government and the Cuban
army would reject absolutely interven-
tton by the United States unless it
should be preceded by recognition of
the independence of the Cuban repub-
lie; that If the United States persisted
in intervening without recognizing Gu
ban independence, the Cuban govern
ment and military forces would refuse
to cooperate. and that II United States
troops should be sent to Cuba upon
the basis of Intervention without rec
ognltlon the Cuban army would, in the
last resort, turn it's arms against the
United States
The statement made by Mr. Rubens
was preceded ~ the following:
The declaration am about to make
is official, for I am the legal repre-
sentative Of the junta, and I know
their unalterable convictions and posi-
ton. 1t is in line with the utterances
of the delegate of the Cuban provision
al government to the United States,
Thomas Estrada Palma, when the sug-
gestion was made that this government
should counsel the Cubans, and, If
necessary, coerce them to an accept
ance Of autonomy"
After quoting from the address to the
people of the United States, issued by
Mr. Palma on March II, Mr.. Rubens
says:
Cubans Refuse.
In the face Of the present proposal of
Intervention without previous recognition,
1t is necessary for US to go a step further
and say that we must and will regard
such Intervention as nothing less than
declaration of war by the United States
against the Cuban revolutionists.
II intervention shall take place on that
basis, and the United States shall land an
armed force on Cuban soil, we shall treat
that force as an enemy to be opposed, and,
If possible, expelled, SO long as the recog-
milton of free Cuban republic is with
held. l do not mean to say that the Cuban
army will assemble on the coast to resist
the landing of federal troops, but that it
will remain in the interior refusing 10 any
American authority. ignoring and rejecting
the intervention to every possible extent.
Should the United States troops succeed in
expelling the Spanish; should the United
States then declare protectorate over the
island-however provisional or tentative
and should extend its authority over the
government of Cuba and the army of lib
Grafton we would resist with force of arms
as bitter and tenaciously as we fight the
armies Of Spain.
1t was 1 who yesterday from the most
trustworthy private sources of information,
conveyed to the newspaper reporters the
forecast of the burden of the presidents
messegelintervention without recognition
of independence. The forecast has been con-
frmed by subsequent public events, and the
accuracy of any information in this particu-
lar should give authority to the informa-
tion, even more important, which l am now
to divulge. 1t has been in my possession
for many hours, and l have hesitated be-
tween my duty as an American citizen on
the one hand, and, on the other, as the
legal representative of the Cuban junta,
but regard the time as now arrived when
I must make these facts known.
Charge of Treachery.
have 1t from Spanish authority high
in financial circles that the whole course
now proposed by the president is in pursu-
ance Of an understanding between Washing
ton and Madrid, the object of which is to
secure peace in Cuba. Cuban acceptance Of
Spanish autonomy, without the shedding of
a drop of American blood or the eXpendi-
ture of another dollar of American money.
See how perfectly the proposals, with this
light upon them, are adapted to work out
to that end; the intrinsic evidence alone is
almost sufficient to prove the accuracy. Of
my information, which runs thus: ut has
been agreed between Spain and the United
States that this government, while declar-
ing for Intervention, shall refuse to recog
nize the independence Of Cuba"
1t is mutually hoped by the two govern
ments that the Cubans will then become
convinced that the object for which they
have been fighting all these years--.indepen-
eventually, autonomy under the Spanish
flag. A part, Of the programme is that
intervene but shall not direct him to do so.
The object Of this will be to gain ample
time in which to persuade the Cubans to
make terms directly with Spain. 1 assert
again that this information is trustworthy,
and 1t explains what has seemed inexplic-
able-the optimistic tone still observable
among prominent officials, both at Washing
ton and Madrid, despite the strong senti-
ment for forcible Intervention prevailing
throughout the nation and in congress. :,
The Cubans will not trust the United
States, first, to obtain possession and then
to grant Cuban independence. The very
fact that recognition is expressly withheld
now implies the possibility that it may be
permanently withheld.
Probable Action.
In ract, we more Cnan nan KNOW Wndt TO
expect in the event of the United States
becoming master of the island. A plebiscite
would follow; the people would be permit
ted to choose between allegiance to Spain
under the forms If autonomy. independence
and annexation to the United States, and
the presence and pressure of federal force
would determine the election in favor Of
annexation
The Cubans are resolved to make no such
farcical apparent choice for themselves.
They will make only an absolute free
choice, and that choice has been, is, and
will be, thing only-absolute inde-
pendence. They will not have the United
States step in at the eleventh hour of the
most heroic and self sacrificing struggle
against tyranny recorded in all history, and
reap all the fruits of it, saddling us, among
other things, with the financial cost of its
unwelcome Intervention.
But should the United States recognize
the independence and then intervene, it
would be most welcome to the Cubans, and
the expense would gladly be betrayed from
the treasury Of the republic.
There is view of this matter which it
behooves the United States to weigh care
fully. Should this country forcibly inter-
vene without recognizing any government
in Cuba, it would be responsible to all
nations of the earth for injury To their suh-