New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-01
PRESIDENTS HANDS FREE,
CONGRESS NOT DISPOSED TO INTERFERE
WITH HIS CUBAN POLICY.
FURTHER ASSURANCES GIVEN THAT THE NDio-
rIAr1oNs WILL BE BROUGHT TO A SPEEDY
CoNCIUsIoN-REvIvAL OF TIE flSoI-
Tyr TO PURCHASE TIE DAN
1sH WEST INDIES.
IsH WEST INDIES


vosh,ne,on. March 3l.-Both houses Of Con-
press today showed decidedly more ehcour
aging disposition 10 yield 10 the Administration
inst and reasonable request that IL De ailo"eu ~
hiring TO ar end without interference the V''""y
,,,,,orta,t negotiations now in progress between
washington and Madrid As on TUESDAY ana
Yesterday the President continued 10 tlNe 'o-
dav 20 all his Congressional callers the ass trance
that these negotiations would be Dioush' 'o
sneedv conclusion. and that by next MONDAY a.
.ha ,a,as. he would be able TO lay before both
branches the results Of his ina! enor' 10 seOu'e
,y dinlouotic pressure on Spain the restoration
.. neace civil order and stable government III
Cuba.
A CLEAR FIELD FOR THE PRESIDENT
Accepting such assurances IN spirit OF 30
or;a,v and self-resraint. the leaders IN congress
exerted themselves TO repress the zeal OF tnoSe
.v,rer,is,s who have been struggling TO force
+be Presidents hand by an immediate declara-
1jon Of hostilities. and whose impauen'e cur
minated in yesterdays sensational struggle III
the House Of Representatives to upset the ru'es
o,a acknowledge at once the independence OF
the Cuban Republic No similar denio's''" "''o"
was attempted to-day. and the decision OF the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs TO report
no legislation OF a character TO embarrass pend
ing negotiations with Spain until Monday next
following the example set yesterday by the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, seems
70 leave the clear field in both branches desired
by the Administration for the brieS interval
which remains before the success or failure or
the lates, plans for a peaceful settlement OF the
Cuban problem can be publicly declared.
NO DOUBT OF WHAT CONGRESS WANTS
Though the diplomatic exchanges now In
bo1l ol- hone OF
an agreement on terms OF pacihcation between
Spain and the United States. 1t cannot be de-
MED that Spanish assent to unconditional In
dependence as one Of the features Of the com
pact seems scarcely within the range OF proDa-
bilities But should this assent be refused
further negotiations will be deemed useless oy
the Administration. and the next step toward
settlement Of the issues now so sharply drawn
between Spain and the United states VIII De
left TO the judgment Of Congress, or whose
eagerness 10 assume that responsibility there
have been so many and varied demonstrations
during the last week. and the solution whlch
Congress will choose is no longer open 10 DOUBT
PURCHASE OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES.
The decision OF the Foreign Relations Com
,o,ttee Of the Senate 10 urge the passage OF
the Lodge bill for the purchase Of the Dan'sh
West Indian islands may have the efeci OF
Fastening the realization OF a project which
has long been favored by far-sighted American
statesmen In General Grants first term as
president the Executive concluded a treaty
with Denmark FOR the transfer or ST. Jhomas
ST. John and ST. Croix 70 the United Sta'es
but the convention was never ratified by the
Senate A year ago the scheme OF purchase
was revived by Senator Lodge, who introduced
bill with that purpose In view In Congress-
This measure has now been approved by the
Senate Committee Foreign Relations, ana
~ II passes both houses treaty viii promptly
he drawn by the two Governments 20 erect
the proposed sale. 81. Thomas IS to be used
es naval base and coalng station and would
be O. great strategic value If occupied and
supplied before the breaking out OF hosulities
with Spain.