Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-09-29
SITUATION IN CUBA.
The Spanish Evacuation Of the Is
land VIII Take Some Months.
AUTONONISTS WANT TO FIX TERMS.
They Claim That Many Incidental 0uss-
lions Must He settled Before Evacua-
tion Begins-American Commission
ers May submit an Ultimatum.

Washington, Sept sa-OHicial dis.
patches received by one Of the EN-.
bassies here from Havana confirm the
reports that the colonial government
Of the islands is taking hand in shap.
ing the terms on which the evacuation
shall be executed. This, 1t is believed
here, may develop some new phases in
the situation in Cuba. The colonial
government was established by Spain
shortly before the war broke out,
there being a cabinet Of five officers
at Havana, and legislative
body with two houses 1t carried
out in measure the long pend
ing plan of giving Cuba home rule
by means of an autonomous govern.
ment, but while in name autonomous
it was contended by the insurgent ele-
ment that genuine home rule was lack.
ing and that this colonial regime was
a continuance Of Spanish domination
1t appears, however, that these colo
NAL authorities are taking very &C.
tive part in the present negotiations,
and that there is more or less cooper
alton between them and the Spanish
government. This creates condition
in which the United States must deal
not only with Spain, but with those
who claim to represent the island
itself, free from Spanish control
The colonial, or autonomist, admin
istration is very thoroughly organized
and can exert much influence. 1t es-
tablshed regular legation in Wash
ington prior to the war, with several
prominent public men Of Havana on
the staff. 1t numbers in its ranks
much Of the wealth Of Cuba, and
claims to stand for the educated classes
as against the insurgents and litter
ates. This makes two distinct Cuban
classes-the autonomists, who are co.
operating with Spain, and the insur-
gents, who are opposed to Spain.
1t now seems clear, from the official
as well as the press reports from Ha-
vana and Madrid, that the autonomist
element is taking up the claim first ad-
vanced by Spain, that many incidental
questions as to Cuba must be settled
before the evacuation begins. Butth
view among government officials here
is that the Cuban autonomists, as we'll
as the Spaniards, have no questions to
advance or settle before evacuation is
determined upon. The time and place
of evacuation is looked upon by the
authorities here as the only point in.
volved, and there is likely to be rude
awakening II the pro-Spanish element,
either as autonomists or as native
Spaniards, insists upon bringing in
the determination of the Cuban debt,
future form of government, rates of
tariff for Spain and many other sub
jects as a preliminary to evacuation.
The American commissioners, accord
ing to the understanding here, will in
sist on a strict adherence to the proto-
col for an immediate evacuation of the
island, aud, II need be, will submit an
ultimatum against taking up subsid-
iary questions of Cuba's future
While the Cuban colonial govern
ment is thus com bining with the Span
ish government in bringing forward
these incidental questions, yet the
opinion was expressed yesterday by a
high diplomatic officer, based on re-
cent advices from Havana, that seri-
Gus issue would be averted and that
the actual evacuation of the Spanish
troops from Cuba would begin within
the next month. But 1t appears that
the evacuation will cover much
longer time than has been anticipated.
There are some 100000 Spanish troops
in the island. Allowing 1000 men on
transport and vessel leaving every
day, it would take 100 days, or over
three months for the evacuation. But
the vessels are not available for trip
every day for 100 consecutive days, so
that the time for departure would
4 II Al