The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-21
THERE WAS A PLOT
To Form Spanish-American Repub-
lie in Cuba co Revert to Spain.


Chicago, Oct 21-A special dispatch
to the Tribune from Washington, says:
A story of a~sensationaI nature comes
from apparently reliable sources con-
corning plot in Havana, by leading
Spaniards including Captain General
Spanish-American republic in Cuba,
which would eventually revert to Spain,
thus securing and retaining the SOW
ereignty of that country.
The scheme was cleverly laid, and all
the preliminary steps were taken to-
wards carrying 1t into execution. Only
the destruction of Cervera's fleet, fol-
lowed shortly after by the surrender Of
Gen. TOral at Santiago, and the peace
protocol, prevented more decisive ac-
ton being taken.
The plan was that Gen. Blanco should
proclaim a revolution in Havana against
the sovereignty of Spain, and declare
Spanish-American republic, with him
self at the head of the government, and
all of the various leaders of the civil
government, the commanders of the vol
unteers, 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 Gen.
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 element was to be regarded.
With the major portion of the Spanish
army in and about Havana and the
volunteers all supporting the new rev.
dictionary government under BlancO it
would be seen that Spain was in a hope
less condition and would be forced to
surrender it's sovereignty and recognize
independence of the new Spanish
American republic.
But the pIOtters went further than
this. ENJOYS were sent by Gen. Blanco
to all the SpaniSh-Americ countries
to secure their cO-Opera ton and aid,and
their recognition of the new republic
rl1r, nalo 1NTr h
would insure the government belliger-
ent rights and means by which sup
plies could be secured to carry out the
movement.
Gen. Pando was secretly dispatched
to Mexico and like other emisSaries,
worked in secret with a two-fold pur-
pose.
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 impress upon the various govern
mentS the sincerity of the intended
movement in establishing anotherSpan
ish-American republic, which they would
be in duty bound to recognize.
General PandO, who was tncognito,
was recognized at Vera Cruz and sew
eral other Mexican cities but, it is said,
succeeded in impressing many leaders
of the Mexica government with the
idea that Blanco would shortly proclaim
himself dictator of new Spanish
American republic. Upon his return to
Imtabano Pando was enthusiastic over
the project and believed it could be sue
cessfully carried out.
simultaneously General Aldecoa and
General PujOI returned from similar
missions to some of the South and Cen
trail American republics with good re-
ports looking toward the execution OF
their plot.
Then followed Spanish defeats on land
and sea, and on this account other re
on the part of the governments which
they had visited.
General Blanco, with the cooperation
of his Heutenants, endeaVored TO re-
vive and continue the project, but the
fact that Spain soon after sued for
peace put an end to the plan. NeVerthe-
less Blanco protested against the over
ture and desired to have the war con-
There is a question as to whether the
plot was devised in Madrid with the
consent of Senior Sagasta and the gov
eminent, or whether II was purely an
act of treachery and traitorism on the
part of General Blanco and his support
ers The fact that Spain began SUIT
for peace after the fall of Santiago and
that General BlancO's plan was there
by prevented from being carried INTO
execution leads those who have as
covered the plot to the belief that BAN
co and the leaders of the spanish army
who wanted to prolong the war Tor their
Individual benefit had acted 1ndepenu-
entity. 1t was thought Blanco's inten-
ton, if he succeeded in establishing the
new republic, was to turn 1t over TO
Spain either by purchase or otherwise
al the end of a certain time. A further
part of the plot was to orquer that
part of the island controlled by the IN
surgents-
General Blanco also labored under the
halIucination that by revolving against
Spain, and establishing a government
he and his followers would get the
-oooerni+iOn of the United States, which
the Insurgents failed to secure.
After the surrender at Santiago II
will be remembered that a report was
sent out that General Pando had been
EVEN a leave of absence by General
Blanco and permitted to return to Spain.