The herald., 1898-03-09
AN INSURGENT AGENT
COMES NORTH ON IMPORTANT
BUSINESS
MUCH SECRECY Is OBSERVED
But the Rebellious Cubans Will Assist
the United States in War
Against Spain
Press special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK, March s.-General JOS
eph Lacret of the Cuban Army has ar
rived in New York bearing important
messages to the Junta. He is accompan-
led by Judge Acknowledgement Manuel
Alonzo and Col. octave Gibcrga.
Gen. Lacret and his two companions
left Puerto Principe. the seat of the Gu
ban government, about three weeks ago.
They were escorted to the coast, whence
they made their escape in an open boat,
in which they sailed to the northern Bay
of Jamaica. A day after their landing
at Jamaica they learned Of the disaster
to the Maine. From Jamaica they came
to New York by steamer and reported
at once to Thomas Estrada Palma.
"All / can say" said Gen. Palma, 'is
to confirm the report that Gen. Lacret
and two other staff officers are now in the
city. Their mission is one Of the great
est Importance. They have delivered
their reports to me in person. What these
reports are l cannot state at this time.
II will say this much, however" con-
tinued Gen. Palma, that in case the
United States should declare war against
Spain, President Masso will cooperate
at once with the United States.'
Gen. Palma said that Gen. Lacret as
sured him that the Cuban Army was well
supplied with arms and ammunition.
Colonels Giberga and Alonzo are both
men of ability and are the confidential
advisers of the Cuban government. Their
stay in this city will be short. They ex-
pect to be back in the field in Cuba be-
fore the middle of next month
THE AUTONOMY SCHEME
NEW YORK, March 8-A dispatch
to the Tribune from Havana says: When
arms failed Spain fell back on politics
to gain peace in Cuba. Now that poll
tics has failed she seeks to fall back Oh
arms.
This is the meaning of the declaration
from Madrid that Sagasta has decided
to press autonomy vigorously by both
military and political measures. 1t is
the Minister'S confession of the failure
of the radical autonomists to reach the
insurgents with their twelve articles of
weakened faith. Had there been hope
of success by opening negotiations with
Gomez on this basis, the Madrid Cabinet
wauld have temporized and evaded pos
tive declaration. There being no hope,
the prospective rejection by the insur-
gents of the terms offered is discounted
by disavowal in advance. Gown In the
Cabinet and Amblard and Giberga out
of it, are left to make their own explana-
tions. They anticipated that something
of this kind would happen and they can
probably take care of themselves. Had
the movement promised well they knew
it would have been encouraged and
supported in Madrid.
Meantime the historic autonomists In
the cabinet, Galvez, Montero and Zayas
come out from behind their own shad-
ows and announce that they indorse
the plans. 1t is true that the Central
Committee or Junta Of the autonomist
party acted over their heads in formally
committing the organization to further
concessions to the insurgents, but If the
protested departure had possessed vi
tality it would not have been in danger
from their opposition. The autonomists
are still the fractional minority of a
party that has been small in numbers
Ordinarily conflict raging in Cabinet
would mean disruption. However, the
autonomist Cabinet has SO little to do
with the actual government Of Cuba,
such government at 1t is, that no more
attention is paid to the radically op-
posing position of Its members than a
mere difference Of personal opinion.
The premisee that peace Will come by
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