Evening star., 1898-09-20
Spanish Authorities Adopt a Con-
ciliatory Policy.
FOOD TO Be ADMITTED into CUBA
Deliberations of the Paris Commits
sion Not to Be Delayed.
DOUBT ABOUT PHILIPPINES

Confirmation has been received of the
report that the Spanish authorities in Cuba
have changed their attitude regarding food
supplies from the United States. They are
now seeking to facilitate an arrangement
whereby their troops will embark at first
from two points outside of Havana and
leave the way open for early occupancy by
the American troops. This arrangement
also contemplates letting in the food sup
plies on the Comal and other vessels which
are under the control of the War Depart
ment. This avoids the issue raised at Ha-
vana over the payment of duties. The
points selected are, as reported from Ha-
vana, Bahia Honda on the west and Juca-
ron on the east. This will enable the food
to be got out among the insurgents in
both the western and the central part of
the island, where there is said to be the
greatest suffering and where the insur-
gents are reedy to disband as soon as pro-
visions can be issued to them.
1t is stated that Ambassador Cambon has
made these representations to the Presi-
dent on behalf of the Madrid government
and that when Captain General Blanco re-
ported to Madrid the difficulties at Havana
this plan was suggested. 1t was approved
by both the military commissions in Ha-
vana, but in order that there should be no
further irritating questions raised the Mad
rid authorities officially sanctioned the plan
and requested the French ambassador as
their diplomatic representative in Wash
1ngton, to make the proper represents ations
TO the State Department. Under this ar
rangement no further question can be
raised about the power of the captain gen.
eral or of the autonomist cabinet.
Hoping for Concessions
1t Is intimated that Premier Sagasta, by
this action, hoped to show that Spain was
going to put no obstacles in the way of
the United States carrying out it's own
policy in Cuba. By this conciliatory atti-
tude 1t is hoped to pave the way for other
concessions which Spain desires after the
evacuation of the island by her troops
These relate to the Cuban debt compensa-
ton for government property and similar
matters growing out of the conditions un-
der which Spain yields her sovereignty.
The statement is made that the Spanish
military commission a Havana will not
press these matters upon the American
military commission, but that direct repre-
sentatfons will be made to Washington
through Ambassador Cambon. The implied
understanding is that Spain will hence
forth cooperate with the United States in
securing the evacuation of the island as
rapidly as can be accomplished, and that
the other matters will be made the basis
OF regular diplomatic negotiation
To Hurry Work at Paris.
A further intimation is given that instead
or prolonging the work of peace commits
sion in Paris with reference to the Philip
pines Sagasta intends to have it's labors
concluded as svspeedily as possible. This is
with view to having the treaty of peace
signed by the commissioners and ratified bv
the cortes before the United States Senate
acts upon it. This is on the theory that the
quicker Spain acts the easier it will be to
secure assent to whatever is done This
was shown in the promptneSS with which
the cortes was induced to grant authority
to cede Spanish territory as provided in the
protocol between Spain and the United
States.
Leon Castillo. the Spanish ambassador at
Paris, since the signing of the protocol has
been engaged in seeking to determine just
what the ultimate demands of the United
States will be. He has not been able to
learn much, because the policy of the adj
m1niStration had not been determined 1t
is presumed that when the peace commits
sion meets Spain will have a series of coun
ter propositions to set against those pre-
sented by the United States but as she is
the conquered country, what the United
States demands will be in the nature OF an
ultimatum, while what Spain presents will
be simply a statement of what she desires
1t is still an undecided question whether
SagdSta Will make a strong fight to retain
anything in the Philippines. Ambassador
Castillo has been ascertaining the feeling
of the continental powers on that subject
but it is with the knowledge that this coun
try will not be governed by the wishes of
the European powers. The movement
among Spanish statesmen in favor of with
drawing entirely from the Philippines is
said to be gaining headWay, but nothing
definite is known on this point