The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-20
CUBA'S INDEPENDENCE.

The Blowing Up of the Maine 1s an Ad.
| ditiunai and Final Argument.
New York. March 19.-"While the Maine
| disaster is inseparably linked with the
general Cuban question" says the Wash
| ington correspondent of the Herald. 81
am assured that the president would deal
with the former automatically before
| making representations to Spain concern
ing the independence of Cuba. The blow
ing up of the Maine is to be used as an
additional and final argument as to why
speedy end should be brought to the
war in Cuba.
President Mckinley is anticipating a
decision which will show the ma n cause
of the disaster to have been an outside
explosion. and the court will be unable TO
explain what person or persons commit
ted the crime. A cabinet member told
me that while the president was prepar-
ing to make diplomatic representations
to Spain on an indemnity basis, he was
not unmindful of the possibilities of find
ing by the court which would make war
unavoidable. and that the extraordinary
military and naval preparations were con-
sequently begun.
This official told me that only a deci-
sion showing a positively direct connec-
ton of Spanish officials with the Maine
disaster would prevent the president from
carrying out his determination to deal
with the Maine catastrophe i'm a strictly
legal and diplomatic way. 1t may be
further stated that the president hopes
and expects that this matter can be ad-
justed automatically.
II am informed that II is now the pur-
pose of the president to make congress
jointly responsible for any action i'm deal
ing with the Cuban question which may
result in war. He believes that the inde-
pendence of Cuba is written in the book
of fate. He further believes that the blow
ing up of the Maine makes II imperat We
Upon this country to do something at the
earliest date possible to end the war in
Cuba. but he is not convinced as to the
best means of doing this without bring
ing on war.
He has said that he will not be re-
sponsble for 'unholy war If the
United States is to be made responsible
for precipitatng q war, he desires that
congress shall share the responsibility
with him. Instead of issuing a procla-
nation recognizing the independence of
Cuba, as IL has been frequently asserted
he would. President Mckinley is now of
the opinion that congress should take the
initiative. Ii is for that reason that the
administration has changed its pro-
gramme in favor of an early adjourn
ment. ] am now assured that the presi-
dent wants congress to stay here until
the Cuban question is i'm fair way to
settlement. There is no further doubt
that the holding of the Spanish flotilla at
the Canaries and the withdrawal of the
battleships from the vicinity of Cuba was
the result of an agreement reached by the
Washington and Madrid governments
Tho fact that Rear Admiral Sicard has
remaining with him at Key West a for
midable squadron is due to the desire Of
the authorities to have strong fleet
there when the report of the court of in
uuirv is read and the result of the policy
to be inaugurated by the president has
made itself apparent
1T has been determined by the officials
to continue the sharp watch which has
been kept on the torpedo fiotila. and.
should they attempt to move to Porto
Rico. to make vigorous protest to Spain
looking toward orders for their immedi-
ate return to the Canaries. and IL Spain
should refuse to comply with these rep
reservations. the plan prepared by the
officials contemplates not only the forma-
ton of flying squadron, but the dispatch
of cruisers to intercept the torpedo flo
tilla and destroy it,"