New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-05
PEACEOUTLOOK BRIGHTENS.
NEW FACTORS DEVELOPED.
THE POPE TO MEDIATE BETWEEN SPAIN
AND THE INSURGENTS.


AND THE INSURGENTS.
AN ARMISTICE IN CUBA PROBABLE.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE EXPECTED TO
CONVINCE CONGRESS THAT NO CAUSE FOR
DECLARING WAR EXISTS AT PRESENT
THE DOCUMENT AWAITED WITH
COMPARATIVE TRANQUILLTY.
lBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuxEl
Washington, April At is no extravaganza TO
say that to-days developments here have Won
derfully strengthened the belief that this Gov
crnment IS not to be driven by hasty and Ill
considered action in Congress into an instant
declaration OF against Spain. Many things
have combined to brighten the outlook for peace,
and to throw the advocates OF the war-at-
| any-cost programme n burden Of responsibility
| which no mere hue-and-cry tactics can success
fully obscure or tighten Perhaps the most i'm
portant factor In to-days disclosures was the
announcement from Madrid that the Pope had
consented to act mediator between the
! Spanish Government and the Cuban insurgents
and that he had obtained the assent OF the
, Queen Regent to the proclamation Of an armis-
tice In Cuba as preliminary to negotiations for
the re-establishment OF peace and order in the
island.
A TRUCE IN CUBA LIKELY.
According TO a statement issued here this
afternoon on high official authority the Cuban
Revolutionary Junta has accepted. or will ac-
cept the truce offered by Captain-Generai
Blanco in behalf OF Spain. under which terms
OF peace will be discussed, with the sanction Of
the Pope between the insurgents ana the Au-
tonomous Government OF Cuba. That the United
States is not directly made partner TO this
arrangement Is. Of course. freely conceded here
for there has been no thought In Washington
from the beginning OF either suggesting or ac-
cepting the Popes services as a mediator De
tween the United states and Spain. But with
both the Spanish Government and the lnsur-
gents Revolutionary Junta ready to avail them
selves Of his good Offices as a peacemaker, there
seems to be no perenptory necessity for further
Instant Intervention TO end the struggle In Cuba
on the part II the United States.
WISE COURSE FOR BOTH SIDES
That Spain should vastly prefer to make the
/ political concessions demanded by the Cubans
at tn" instance Of a friendly mediator Ike the
Pope than to seem 70 yield them under pressure
I
cuban insurgents should choose to trust for
Independence to negotiations conducted by
themselves under a truce which they can ter
inmate al their own discretion rather than to
risk intervention by the United States, with the
political consequences which that Intervention
implies. Is equally !ntelllgbe.
But II truce has been or IS about 10 be
agreed TO In cuba, II is obvious that further IN
reference 10 restore order and relieve suffering
will be by no means that urgent necessity which
the advocates OF war for wars sake have been
representing It TO be. For Spain. certainly. no
stroke OF diplomacy could lie more timely or
effective than the announcement OF an armstlce
I'm cuba as a preparatory step toward the re-
establishment Of peace; for by that stroke the
war party In Congress will be forced to lay aside
the subterfuges IN which It's motives FOR the last
six months have been cloaked. and to declare
openly the political objects which the scheme
/ Of Intervention IN Cuba has In view.
MORE TRANQUILIITY IN CONGRESS.
Another encouraging development OF the day
was the comparative tranquility with which
Congress received the announcement that the
Presidents Message. with the correspondence
which viii accompany 1t. would not be sent to
the Capitol before Wednesday next Though
some signs apparent in both branches Of
a restless excltabiiity and OF an indispostion
to weigh calmly the reasons for and against an
Immediate declaration OF war. the responsible
leaders In both House and Senate expressed In
creased confidence in their ability TO check all
attempts 10 forestall by Legislation the recon-
mendatlons which the President will embody in
his Message to Congress next Wednesday.
Neither house took to-day any further steps
toward forcing the Presidents hand or bring
ing on an immediate rupture with Spain; nor is
/ fhat tb. ,,fsfa I'm
either branch will venture to anticipate by hos
tile legislation the effect OF the publication OF
the diplomatic exchanges leading up to Spains
note of March 81. and OF the differences and con-
clusons drawn by the President therefrom.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
both held sessions this morning. but neither
thought II wise to disturb its crowded docket OF
Cuban resolutions
THE SPEECHES IN CONGRESS.
Four speeches in favor OF armed Intervention
IN cuba or the recognition OF Cuban ndc-
pendence were made in the Senate But all
came from men who have been classed az
strong advocates OF a resort to force to promote
American ends in Cuba in preference to securing
the same ends by the slower processes OF
In the House OK Representatives Mr. Bailey.
the leader Of the Democratic minority. endeav
ored 10 make little iotical capital by posing
AGAIN as an opponent OF any legislation for the
National defence which did not carry as a rider
n dccIaratiou OF war against Spain But, as on
Wednesday last. his demagogc tactics were
apparent to everybody and he quickly and
enectually snuffed out
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The President is stll devot!ng much time and
care to the preparation Of the Message which
is to accompany the Spanish correspondence to
Congress. This state paper is likely to prove a
notable one. both from It's inherent Importance
and from the elaboration and thoroughness with