The Portland daily press., 1898-03-12
SPAIN DOESN'T WANT WAR
And will Do Everything Honorable
TO Prevent It.
so MINISTER POLO TELLS A PRESS
CORRESPONDENT.

Great Leng til and Tells of What 1t Is
to Accomplish-Is Empowered to Con
tlnue Negotiations For Commercial
| Treaty.
| Washington, March 1l.--Senor Louis
Bernabe, the new Spanish minister,
was seen at the Spanish legation today
by an Associated Press reporter, and
for the first time since his arrival con-
sented to speak concerning Spanish
affairs, observing such reticence on
certain phases as diplomatic propriety
required. Since the minister's arrival
he has received O cable from Capt. Gen.
Blanco saying that the Cuban cabinet
York and Barillo, secretary of the Havana
chamber of commerce, to act With Senor'
| Aggulo in negotiating a civil treaty be-
tween the United States and Cuba. The
minister referred to this fact as another
evidence of the complete autonomy which
Spain has granted to Cuba, Although
Senior P1lo will be the plenipotentiary
| in arranging Cuban treaty, the Cuban
delegates above named, chosen by the
Cuban cabinet, will have entire control
of the terms of such treaty.
| Speaking Of the present pollcy OF
Spain in giving autonomy to Cuba, the
minister said:
''The government has granted autonomy
| on the broadcast and most liberal lines.
1t is designed to give Cuba the complete
direction of their internal affairs thus
gratifying the honorable ambition OF the
! Cubans while maintaining the historic
allegiance of Cuba as colony OF spain.
| The govern ment is now executing this
| plan without any restrictions. On the
contrary it appreciates the fact that the
largest degree Of prosperity for the island
i may be expected from suoh measure
4 Of reform as will meet the cherished ex
4 pectations of Cubans, loyal to Spain AL
ready much has been accomplished and
4 there is the fullest confidence that the
plan will be carried into full execution.
Naturally, with an insurrection dragging
| towards its close there are difficulties
| in the way of a complete realization OF
plans SO comprehensive as to embrace
| the entire internal machinery of Cuba.
| The autonomist cabinet ia organized
and in it's hand is the direction of the
domestic affairs of the1island, pending the
meeting of the Cuban parliament. Tha
days for the parliament's elections and
| for the assembling of the senate and
house have been fixed. With the elections
held, Cuba will have for the first time
d parliament Of her own. capable Of deal
/ ing with all her domestic affairs
HThus q complete plan of local gov
ernment will be in operation with an
executive branch and legislative
branch. The full meaning of this should
be appreciated. aThe governor general
who is the representative OF Spain in
| Cuba will no longer govern in the COM
plete sense, but it would be more accurate
to say that he will reign until the re-
| Ietr ara Dlacad on a constitutional
executive. The naming Of Cuban dele
gates to come to Washington and arrange
a commercial treaty shows
how fully the plan of au-
tonomy grants to the Cubans control
of their own affairs. These delegates will
there tariff arrangements and without
them it could do nothing. In short Spain
has adopted this plan of autonomy, be-
lieving 1t to be the surest means of gain
ing peace and prosperity for the island
and is putting the plan into operation
with the utmost despatch, confident that
| in the end it will accomplish the good
| purpose for which it was designed"
When Senior Polo's attention was drawn
| to the recent critical phases Of the Span
sh.situa5ion, he spoke with much reserve.
| The Lee incident happened while he was
on the ocean and he knew nothing, he
| said, of the circumstances, although he
felt sure misunderstanding had grown
out of some casual illusions to Gen. Lee,
not meant as any intimation that his
recall was desired. The minister was then
asked if he viewed the present condition
of fairs. between the United States and
Spain as indicating war. After a mo.
ment's hesitation he answered gravely
~ am sure that the United States does
| not want war, just as am sure that the
Spanish government does not want
war and will do everything honorable in
it's power to avert such calamity"
| Senior Polo's first official business after
his credentials are presented to the Presi-
dent, will be in connection with the
new commercial treaty between the
United States and Spain aud Cuba. He
comes fully instructed on this subject
and before leaving Madrid talked over
the general plans with United States
Minister Woodford. 1t is not yet deter
mined whether there shall be two treaties
with Spain and Cuba, separately, or one
with Spain, which shall include Cuba.
Until the minister meets our reciprocity
commissioner, Mr.. Kasson, he does not
care to discuss the scheme OF commercial
exchange which is under consideration.
From other sources however, the gem
eral plans were learned. @aN
So far as the proposed treaty will affect
Spain, it iss probable that the leading
tariff concessions granted to American
imports will be On machinery, electrical
appliances OF Gil xmas, ana various woods
which are used largely in Spain. Ameri-
can petroleum and cotton are the principal
imports in Spain, but it is not probable
that duties will be reduced on these ar
ticles. They enjoy monopoly in the Span
ish market They are, moreover, among
the leading revenue producing articles.
1t is said that American cotton is find
ing large market in Spain and that in
the Catalan1a district, particularly at
Barcelona, mammoth cotton factories are
building Senior Polo has stated that
Americans would be surprised to know
that the output of Spanish manufactured
cottons now nearing if not exceeding
the output in the United States. In the
concessions which Spain hopes to secure
in the United States, it is understood
that fruits will figure largely. The ar
rangement with Cuba will depend large
lv on the wishes of the Cuban delegates
Heretofore Spain has insisted on certain
preferential duties in the case of -four
she supplied to the entire Cuban market.
Spain now recognizes that hardship of
compelling Cubans to go across the ocean
for their supplies of flour. The treaties
will do away with the Spanish prefer
ential rate on -four and will leave the