Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-11
NO PLAN OUTLINED
The Presidents Course Regarding
Cuba Not Definitely Fixed.
GUESSES MADE BY HB FRIENDS
Views of a Senator Close 10 the
Administration.
THE S2oo,ooo,ooo GUARANTEE

the ana1rS OF Spain In Cuba Is all that any
| man is able to accurately state today, and
| the official belief that the President win
,, sooner or later take this step has been
given in The Star, exciting general atten-
| ton in all portions of the country. There
| is no reliable information concerning the
details of the method of Intervention to be
| pursued.
| Those who have studied the methods OF
President Mckinley and who have given
attention TO his relation with public men
OF his cwn party, are satisfied that the
President has never outlined a plan OF ac-
tion as to Intervention or any other method
| His best and closest friends say that under
existing circumstances he can not have
outlined detailed plan No man, they say,
with ,lany questions yet to be settled, and
the outcome Of these doubtful, could, with
certainty, say that his intention is to do
| this Or that. A partial plan fright be map
| ped out based on calculations, but even
! these are likely to go astray. President
| Mckinley is not the man to declare that he
| will do something which he can reasonably
estimate may be impossible of fulfllment.
Notwithstanding all the impossibilities
presented, these friends of the chief execu-
| tive say that Intervention in some form can
| he relied on. 1t can be safely asserted that
| ultimate action will be satisfactory to the
| people of the country.
Report of the Board of Inquiry.
| TIE report of the board of inquiry is ex-
rected next week. 1t is outlined by some
of the journalistic prophets as the Presi-
| dents plan to submit this report to Con-
gress, along with the consular reports
which have been withheld so long These
together with other facts, will. it is said
be presented in a message, which will Sug-
geSt to Congress the advsability of taking
| action to end the war in Cuba The details
of this alleged plan" of the President are
| thought to dsprove it on its face. Such ac-
tion by the President, followed by the ac-
tion of Congress in either granting belliger-
ency or declaring the independence of the
| island. would certainly be declaration of
| war, 1t is claimed. 1t would mean the be-
ginning OF war within a week or shortly
7 afterWard This, too. when the government
| may not be fully prepared for a fight.
One Senator's Views.
senator, who has long been known as
close to the President, gave representa-
tive of The Star his views to the future
remarking that they were his own views
and not those of the President. The sig
| nificance of what he says. however, is to be
found in the fact that up to Sunday he had
not believed that there was any chance of
q conflict with Spain out of any circum-
stances. His change in belief is shared by
nearly every other republican who formerly
held similar views. Not one man these
days, from Senator Elkins down. Is positive
of his beliefs of a week ago. Ali of them
are doubtful, believing only that peace will
be maintained somehow.
The senator referred to thinks that moth
ing will be done by this country until the
report of the beard of inquiry into the
Maine disaster is made known. Upon that
report being received the President WILL If
IT. shows an outside cause. Immediately ask
of Spain an apology and indemnity. This
makes the first probability of war in the
possible refusal of Spain to comply with
our demands Should Spain comply with
the demands that will still leave open the
question of the situation generally in Cuba.
He did not believe that in making demands
upon Spain for indemnity the President will
intimate anything about closing the war on
the islands.
Following spain's settlement. however, the
President will make representations to
Spain as to the situation in Cuba. He will
say to the Spaniards that he hopes there
Will be settlement of the war within a
snort ume. He Will even go SO far as to
put time limit on this settlement a short
limit at that. If Spain does not consent to
close the war that will mean immediate in
terference, and again the probabilities of
war.
The senator also believes that IL Spain
abandons autonomy in Cuba the President
Will instantly say that the murderous rec
crd OF Weyler shall not continue. and will
interfere to put stop to this.
In either of the three things mentioned
the senator sees probabilities of war unless
the President can handle Spain better than
the general public believes she can be han
died. That the President believes he can
bring about the desired end without war
the senator does not doubt.
<The senator went on to say that even IL
the PRESIDENT had made up his mind that
war Will result from some move or the
other he Will probably not make that move
until everything is in better condition to
meet conflict. At the rate things are now
moving II Will not take long to be ready.
Would Favor a Guarantee.
Senator Elkins said today that If Cuba
could be freed, and peace could be pre-
served by this country's guarantee of $780,
100000 Cuban bonds. he would unreservedly
give his consent to such transaction 1T
would be worth five times that much to
u.s." he said, 'in the leopening of free
commercial relations between Cuba and the
United States and in avoiding war;
Senator Elkins said he had no idea that
the Presidents intentions are in the direc-
ton Of a bend guarantee. as he had not
talked with him on the subject.
1. Discussed by the Cabinet.
The cabinet session today was devoid of
results, &C far as consideration of the for
eign situation was concerned. The official
fathers had little opportunity to talk on
the subject, as the appointment for the re-
ception to Prince Albert had been fixed for
II O'Clock. The arrangements for this re-
ception had not been fully completed when
the cabinet mat, and there was frequent
interruption in the room. The discussion
OF the Spanish situation was, therefore,
desultory and disconnected. The cabinet
r,embers left the White House with the
impression that there is nothing new In
the situation.
A positive denial Is again given to the
oft-repeated story that the administration
as aware Of what the testimony before the
board Of inquiry will show. If the Presi-
dent has any idea ON the subject. he has
carefully refrained from making 1t known
even to cabinet members.
The members of the cabinet waited some
time after the President went away with
Prince Albert. thinking he would return In
time to resume the session, but decided to
depart.
ExpectatiOn at the Capitol.
{ The expectation at the Capitol is that the
President viii take some decided action ON
the Spanish question before the close OF
next week. 1t 10 thougaat that he win then
either recognise the Independence Of Cuba
or take the preliminary steps toward such
recognition. This viii be followed either
by back-down on the part of Spain or
by war. It 10 said In Congress that II