The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-19
PLANS FOR CUBA.
Insurgent Leaders are Expected to
Join in Preserving Order.

COlu III 3E0S6INAAS O40SAs
New York, Aug. ia special dis
patch from Washington to the Times
says:
Generals Butler and Wade, with Ad-
miral Sampson, the military commits
sioners for Cuba, will be required to
meet in Havana before September Il,
according to the terms of the protocol
of August II, to arrange for the time
and manner Of the evacuation of the
island. AS it has been agreed that
General BlancO and his troops may
take away the guns and arms in the
fortifications, the arrangements to be
effected will be largely such as the
United States government feels obliged
to accept to provide the means of pre-
serving order where the withdrawal Of
Spanish forces might otherwise lead
to riot and pillage.
There is still among members of the
administration the opinion that by the
time the Spanish control is about to be
Withdrawn there will be a large body of
Cubans, not all insurgents, that will be
ready to give the soldiers of the United
States something like the welcome that
has been extended to them in Porto
Rico, thus simplifying the task of the
United States in changing rule for the
inhabitants.
The commissioners expect to give at
tentiOn to much more important mat
ters than the mere indication Of ports
at which Blanco and his men shall en-
bark. They will look into the cOndi-
lions of society in Cuba, test the feel
fngs Of the people in the cities as to
the introduction of United States Off
GERS to take temporary charge of some
of the functions of the government and
upon their report will depend greatly
the succeeding movements of the Unit
ed States.
A very early attempt will be made to
secure conferences with Generals Co
mez, Garcia, President MassO and 9TH
er leading Cubans. to assure them that
the policy marked out in the order of
President Mckinley to General LawtOn
must be adhered to in justice to the
whole people of Cuba. 1t is expected
that these leaders may be induced to
take a calm view of the situation and
accept the full responsibility for Sc
curing cordial cooperation on a plan
intended to be just to all Cubans
whether of native or Spanish birth in
order that there shall be interior
ence of the progress that is felt to be in
store for Cuba when the island is once
free from Spanish control. A COM
parison of information obtained will
very likely be made by the Cuban and
Porto Rican commission before any
plan is determined upon. But it is ex-
pected that the main points will be
clear to both commissions at an early
stage in the inquiry that they will
make.
The advice of conservative men in
Cuba will be solicited and wherever
possible adopted, in order to make the
transition from the old government
to the new as free from irritating fea-
lures as possible There will be a
thorough effort to get rid of the most
notorious practices under Spanish rule
at once the belief being that Spanish
and Cubans alike will gladly aid in
abOlishing the old squeezing processes
that have been legitimatized, as they
increased the wealth of the officers and
kept the unofficial class miserably poor.
1t does not appear that the military
commission will be expected to look af-
ter commercial interests, except as they
are involved in the maintenance of
peace. The treasury department will
provide the changes that are to be in
trOduced in free Cuba, and they will
favor the utmost activity on the part
of every man who can produce some
thing or contribute to the distribution
to those countries of the world that
may need Cuban products.
The treasury will, of course, have to
maintain revenue cutters about Cuba
as long as any import tariff is main
tanned and to do the work properly Sec
rotary Gage may have to, send five
six revenue cutters to Cuba and per-
haps two or three to Porto Rico. If
so many vessels OF the fleet are needed
in the West Indies, congress will be
Obliged to increase the fleet above the
present number, thirty-six. Hawaii
must have one or two cutters and if the
Philippines are held there will be bust
ness for several others and perhaps an
increased number of revenue cutter Of
I fcers. Whatever the plan may be for
the pacifcatiOn of Cuba, the president
is sure the United States can prevail
upon the people of both islands hither-
/ to held by Spain to get along without
blOOdshed.
Occasional outbreaks may not be
avoided but there is strong hope of
maintaining substantial peace with the
help of the former insurgents.