Arizona republican., 1898-03-31
Only Cuba'S Freedom
 Must Come of 1t. REEDS IRON GRASP. The Speaker Retains the Mas
 tery of the House.
At Madrid Conference Yes- terday Two Features of the Reply to President MCKin- Iey'S Note Were FormuIat- ed But Congress Has Re- jeCted Them in Advance.

Washington, March 30.-The vital point in the Cuban situation, viz, in dependence of the island, has shifted itself from Washington to Madrid, where the Spanish government is now giving grave and earnest consideration to the propositions presented by the government of the United States. On the answer to these propositions de pends the future course of relations between Spain and the United States.
 It is believed that it is now but question of an exceedingly short time before the inevitable crisis must come. The Spanish ministry will hold cab inet council tomorrow after the prop Ositions have been submitted to the queen regent, and as a result of that conference it is expected by the ad- ministration that definite answer to it's proposals will be received. The propositions submitted by this coun- try contemplate an immediate cessa- tion of hostilities in Cuba the return of the reconcentrados to their usual avocations and the independence of Cuba, the latter to be secured prob ably on an indemnity basis by which the island will pay substantial sum for it's freedom from Spanish rule.
 These propositions take a wide scope and there are many details in the alternative propositions, the pur- pose being to present every possible plan promising a solution of the Gu ban problem so long as an end of the Cuban war and Cuban independence are embodied in the ultimate result. It has been made perfectly clear to Spain that nothing less than the close of the war and the independence of Cuba will suffice as an adequate set clement. It is now for Spain to ac- cept or reject these tenders.
 Never before now has the Spanish government even for a moment en- tertained such a proposition. Now, in the stress of the present emergency, with declarations of war introduced in the American congress, Spain has re- luctantly consented to consider them. This in itself has given lively hope of a satisfactory result. But it in wolves grave crisis in Spain and it cannot be foretold what the final ac- tion at Madrid will be.
 Until today it was believed that Spain would indignantly reject the proposition involving the independence of Cuba or American intervention or the disappearance of the Spanish flag from the island, either through pur- chase by the Cubans or otherwise. There was the best of reason for an official belief that as between peace and war on these propositions Spain would choose war, but more hope ap- parently is entertained of Spain being in a yielding mood as the American plans for a solution are being care fully weighed with view to a general decision.
 Many representative men of con- gross called at the White House today and conferred with the president. Tc the leaders in congress he stated that definite results were expected from Madrid by Friday. This served to al lay the intense feeling which has beer manifested in congress, and through the influence of the leaders further radical action by the senate anG