The herald., 1898-10-22
SURRfND[R OF SPAN
CANE JUST I'M TIME TO SPOIL
BLANCo's PLANS
A PLOT WAS ALL PREPARED
TO Set Up an Independent Cuban
Republic in Time to Revert
to Spain
Associated Press Special wire.

CHICAGO, Oct. 2l.-A special dispatch to
the Tribune from Washington says story
oil q Sensational nature comes from appar.
emily good sources concerning plot formed
in Havana, by leading Spaniards, includ,,
ing Captain-General Blanco and General
Pando, to proclaim an independent Span.
ish-American republic in Cuba, which would
eventually revert to Spain, thus securing
and retaining the sovereignty OF that coun-
try.
The scheme was cleverly laid and all the
preliminary steps were taken towards car
rying it into execution. Only the destruc-
tion Of Cervera's fleet, followed shortly
Santiago and the peace protocol, prevented
q decisive action being taken:
The plan was that General Blanco should
proclaim revolution in Havana against the
sovereignty of Spain and declare Spanish
American republic, with himself the head
of the government and all of the various
leaders Of the civil government, the COM
manders of the volunteers and the Spanish
army were to concur in the movement and
ostensibly sever their allegiance to Spain
and be turned over bodily to the hands Of
General Blanco, under his new government.
The movement was to be entirely free
and independent of the insurgents, who
were not to be recognized in the affair to
any extent, but only the strictly Spanish
cIeuens was W Dc TegaIueu. w Vitu Cuc HiaJor
portion of the Spanish army in and about
Havana, all supporting the new revolution
ary government under Blanco, it would be
seen that Spain was in hopeless condition
and would be forced to surrender its SOW
ereignty and recognize tho independence
of the New Spanish-American republic.
But the plotters went further than this.
ENJOYS were sent by General Blanco to all
the Spanish American countries to secure
their cooperation and aid and their recogni-
ton of the new republic when declared by
General Blanco. This would insure the gov
ernment belligerent rights and a means by
which supplies could be secured to carry
out the movement. General Pando was Sc
cretly dispatched to Mexico and, like other
enissaries, worked in secret with a two
fold purpose. If discovered they would show
they were endeavoring to secure supplies
for the Spanish soldiers and the suffering
people of Havana. The most important and
true meaning of their missions was to i'm
press upon the various governments the sin
cerity Of the intended movement in estab-
fishing another Spanish-American republic,
which they would be in duty bound to rec
ognize.
General Pando, who was incognito, was
recognized at Vera Cruz and several other
Mexican cities, but it is said succeeded in
inpressing many leaders Of the Mexican
government with the idea that Blanco
would shortly proclaim himself dictator of
q new Spanish American republic. Upon
his return to Imtabano Pando was enthu.
ssiastic over the project and believed it could
be successfully carried out.
simultaneously General Aldecoa and Gem
eral Pujol returned from similar missions to
some Of the South and Central American
republics with good reports looking towards
the execution Of their plot.
Then followed Spanish defeats on land
and sea, and on this account other return
ing envoys reported lukewarmness on the
part of the governments which they had
visited.
General Blanco, with the cooperation of
his lieutenants, endeavored to revive and
continue the project, but the fact that Spain
soon after sued for peace put an end to
the plan.. Nevertheless, Blanco protested
against the overture and desired to have
the war continued.
There is question as to whether the plot
was devised in Madrid with the consent of
Senator Sagasta and the government, or
whether it was purely an act of treachery
and traitorism on the part of General Pan:
do and his supporters. The fact that Spain
began suit for peace after the fall of San
tiago and that General Dlanco's plan was
thereby prevented from being carried into
execution leads those who have discovered
the plot to the belief that Blanco and the
leaders. Of the Spanish army who wanted
to prolong the war for their individual
benefit had acted Independently.
1t was thought Blanco's intention, if he
succeeded in establishing the new repub-
lie, was to turn it over to Spain either by
purchase or otherwise at the end of GER
tain time. A further part of the plot was
to conquer that part Of the island con-
trolled by the insurgents.
General Blanco also labored under the
hal]ucination that by revolving against
Spain and establishing government, he
and his followers would get the recogni-
tion Of the United States which the insur-
gents failed to secure.
After the surrender at Santiago it will
be remembered that report was sent out
that General Pando had been given leave
Of absence by General Blanco and permit
ted to return to Spain. It now appears
that he was recalled by the Madrid govern
ment. for the part he took in the plans
for the mock rebellion, Blanco, when the
facts became known to the home govern
ment, having made it appear that pando
and not himself was at the head of the
movement.