The record-union., 1898-04-02
SPANISH RULE
IN CUBA
MUST CEASE.
Senate Committee Ready
to Report.
viii Declare for the RecOgni-
tiOn Of independence.
Axmnd In{ovvonfion IL cnoin Dofucoc
Armed Intervention if Spain Refuses
to ConCede ii.
The Resembling Of the Order for the Con.
centration of Noncomhatants to be
Treated as a Mere
Suhterfuge.

little doubt that the President and the
members of his Cabinet now regard
conflict with Spain as almost inevita-
BILE. In his message to Congress, which
in all probability will be sent in next
Monday, and certainly early next week,
it is understood that the President will
review at some length the record as it
stands. between this Government and
Spain, but will not insist upon further
time in which to continue negotiations
locking to a peaceful solution of the
Cuban problem.
The Cabinet meeting this morning
was unquestionably the most important
held in many years. 1t received Spains
naswer to the ultimatum of this Gov
ernment, and, finding it unsatisfactory,
practically decided upon policy which
at this hour seems certainly to involve
hostilities The whole record will be
laid before Congress, and the question
is now under earnest consideration of
what shall be the particular form our
policy shall take in bringing to an end
the horrors in Cuba and securing the
independence of the island. PROPOSE
ticns ranging from a simple recognition
or Cuban independence to straight
out declaration of war have been urged
at the Capitol, but there is hardly a
doubt that the majority of Congress
await the Executive lead before taking
action, and are disposed to adopt Nc
Kinley's suggestions on this point. 1t
is thought that any of the resolutions,
except possibly simply recognition of
independence, would lead to war.
There We're, of course, all sorts of ru-
mors in circulation. including reports
of mediation by some European Pow
ers, but no suggestion has come to this
Government for as late as o'clock, in
response to direct question. Assistant
Secretary Day said that there had been
no offer of mediation by any foreign
Government.
One member of the Cabinet in speak
ing of the meeting to-day. spoke sub
stantially as follows:
ali of us that, having exhausted all
diplomatic efforts to bring about a bet
ter condition of affairs in Cuba, and
they having failed, the whole question
must be submitted to Congress. AT our
afternoon meeting the President re-
quested each member of the Cabinet to
express freely his individual opinion as
to what should be done. The discus
sion was entirely on the lines indicated
by the members. Nothing definite was
decided upon, and no conclusions
reached. The President will now take
the views submitted to him under
consideration, preparatory to his mes
sage to Congress, which will be sent
early next week
President Mckinley has done great
deal of work recently, and appears
pretty well fatigued. Consequently he
will take some little rest before begin
ming work on the message. He has not
yet determined what recommendation
will be communicated to Congress. My
own individual opinion is that but lit
tie faith can be put in promises made
by Spain, and this makes me hesitate
about accepting with any confidence
her latest proposals
In the first place she promised a
long time ago that the reconcentrados
would be released. The result shows
this promise has not been kept Now
she proposes to release them, but keep
them under military supervision. Who
can tell whether she will adhere TO this
expressed intention? Broadly. there
appears - be three courses open to
the President in dealing further with
this matter The first of these is to
accept the proposals submitted by
Spain in reply to the American repre-
sentations; the second. to relegate the
whole matter to Congress. and let thar
body do as it seems proper. which
think would mean Intervention; and
thirdly, to take a middle stand. ano
as 1 said before, nothing has yet been
determined upon by the President, OF
If he has reached a decision he did not
communicate il to the members Of the
Cabinet to-day.
Yes, reference was made by Spain
to the Maine matter in the reply she
sent through Minister Woodford. She
made no offer to pay for the loss. but