The times., 1898-03-03
THE ADMINISTRATIONS S POLICY
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(From the New York SUM-
Washington. D.. c.. March 1.-While
awaiting the report of the Naval Board Of
Inquiry as to the cause of the explosion
that wrecked the Maine. President Me
Kinley is giving most careful and serious
consideration to the Cuban policy that
he had in mind before the disaster occur
red which upset. temporarily. at least, all
his plans. He was about ready TO decide
upon some definite plan of action when
the news came that has since brought the
United States and Spain to the verge of
war, and it is uncertain whether he will
go on with the program that he had i'm
mind. The time has now arrived. how
ever, when he must take some action. and
he has given frequent intimations during
the past day or two that the Cuban ques-
ton, which came to him as a relic of the
Cleveland Administration. win be settled
one way or another very soon.
Secretary Longs official statement to-
day to the effect that the possibility of
Spanish participation in the blowing up
of the Maine has been eliminated from
the problem is understood to mean that
the Administration Is clearing the way for
announcing what its next move about
Cuban freedom is to be. The President
himself does not know yet just what
move he will make. Whatever ii is will
of course. not be announced until after
the report of the Board of Inquiry is re-
ceived, but if that report should be a
surprise to the Administration and give
ground for suspicion that the Spanish are
in any sense responsible for the destruc-
ton of the Maine. Congress might pass
a war measure, and thus make it impOs-
sible for him to put in operation any Gu
ban policy at all.
If, however. the report of the board
shall show that the explosion was the re-
suit of an accident, as the Administration
now says. officially, it believes to be the
case, the President may be ready to
supplement the report of the board with
the announcement of his plan for def
nitely and finally settling the Cuban oues-
ton. The President is now in daily con-
ference with the leading members of both
houses and political and personal friends
from outside of Washington. and through
them something is learned of the tenor
of these conferences.
Direct Intervention does not appear to
strike the fancy of the President as the
best means of accomplishing the freedom
of Cuba, although some of the abIest men
in both the Senate and House have ad-
vised him that this is the surest and SAT-
est method if the Sagasta ministry shall
refuse to take the initiative in relinquish-
ing Cuba. The President is so desirous
of avoiding trouble with Spain and of
having that government acquesce in adj
vance in whatever plan he may decide
upon for ending the Cuban war, that he
listens to every suggestion patiently, and
with like patience yields to the demands
of Spain for more time in which TO test
the efficacy of the already rejected plan
of autonomy.
President Mckinley realizes. however,
that, having gained few weeks time by
the deplorable accident to the Maine, he
cannot much longer postpone bringing
the Cuban question to a head, and he
does not attempt to conceal the fact
that the report of the Board of Inquiry
and the final announcement OF his definite
and final Cuban policy will be simuIta-
neous
The proposition which at present is
| most favorably considered by the Presf-
dent and the leading Republicans in the
Senate and House contempIates the pur-
chase of Cuban freedom by having the
United States guarantee the bonds that
will be issued in payment. The President
has told his political friends that Cuba
would readily consent TO this plan of set
tlement. and. indeed, it is said that the
cubans are now urging it upon the Ad-
ministration. There is little or no un-
certainty in the Presidents mind as to
his ability to market the bonds, whatever
price may be paid to Spain for reIin-
| gushing Cuba. He has been assured by
those who have sounded fnanciers in
this country and abroad that the bonds
could be disposed of without serious diff
| Guilty.
Col John ]. McCook, of New York who
is the most active advocate of this plan
| of settlement, has been in Washington d
| great deal lately, and is here now. He
has talked with the President repeatedly
| on the subject. and so have members of
| the Foreign Affairs Committees of the
| House and Senate, as we'll as other Re
| publicans who are as anxious as the Pres
| ident to have the Cuban question settled.
| The Administration has undoubtedly
| sounded the governments of some Euro
| pean nations with regard 10 the attitude
| they would assume if the United States
| should take vigorous action against Spain.
| but the disaster To the Maine has added
a complication TO the situation which did
not exist when these diplomatic inquiries
were made, and desire TO retaliate for
| the destruction of the battleship might
| now be regarded as an additional justi-
| fication for interference by the United
| States.
| The government of Great Britain is
known to be in hearty sympathy with any
| effort the United States may make to
| bring the Cuban struggle to an end. and
| would probably not attempt TO hinder
any steps by the United States against
| Spain either with or without the added
| excuse of the destruction of the Maine.
| Her majesty's government would prob
| ably, therefore, maintain strict neutrality
in any phase of the controversy between
| Spain and the United States.
| 1t is understood that the attitude of
| France has changed since the catastro-
| phe that has startled the world. When
| President Cleveland was suspected of a
| design to interfere with the Cuban war