The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-20
SPAIN AS NOMINAL SUZERAIN.
GOVERNMENT PLAYING ITS LAST
CARD TO SECURE PEACE.

TrOchu In order to Secure Com
ference With Their Leaderx-Wnl
0fYer to Disband the Volunteers,
Pardon the Insurgents ana Grant
Complete Autonomy on Payment
of S2,O0o.000 Per Annum TO spain.
Havana via Key West Fla, March 1o.-
News has Just reached this correspondent
from authentic sources that the autono-
mist government backed by the military
authorities here and the government at
Madrid is now playing its last card to se-
cure peace in Cuba and TO prevent inter-
vention on the part of the United States.
Near Palo Prioto and via Jaeas Gordosa.
in the province Of Santa Clara, on the west
side Of the Jucaro-Moron trocha are gath
cred several thousand insurgents under
command of Gen. CalIxto Garcia and other
prominent chiefs. accompanied by senor
Masso, president of the Cuban republic,
with several members of his cabinet.
Also on the west side of the trocha in
the district of Sancti spiritus less than
thirty miles distant from Gen. Gareia's
forces are stationed 1000 insurgents, under
Setls. 1dhchOs NdfiiAos MontedBuuo, Ian
cliez, Legion and Gonzales.
The Spanish commander, Gen. Pando,
with Gems. Remirez, Charves and other
generals is within few miles from Gen.
Calixto Garcia. Gen. Garcia is west of
the Juraco-Moron trocha. within easy
reach.
All the insurgents, President Masso, and
the insurgent officials with Gen. Garcia
got through Gen. Pandos lines some time
ago and the latter gave up the campaign,
which was to be grand military coup de
grace in the province of Santiago de Cuba
or province of Puerto Principe.
But In addition to passing through the
trocha, the Insurgents turned Gen. Pando's
flank. 1t is just possible that their flank
movement was winked at by Gen. Pando
for the purpose of attempting to carry out
his ulterior political purposes.
Such was the positions when the last ad-
vices we're received at the palace in Ha-
vana.
Gen. Pando's purpose, to further which
he has ordered practical armistice in the
eastern part of Cuba. is stated succinctly
as follows:
TO have personal conference with Gen.
Calixto Garcia, President Masso and other
insurgents, with Gen. Gomez II possible,
and to make them normal offer Of auton-
omy, according to the programme drawn
up by the Left or Radical wing OF that
party.
AS previously cabled, this offer includes
in return for the close of the insurrection,
the disarmament and disbanding of all vol
unteers; commercial treaties TO be con-
cluded without Spanish interference:
maximum sum of $2,000,000 annually to be
paid to Spain by Cuba as the latter's noml-
nal suzerain; no insurgents to be shot or
imprisoned on account of the existing in
surrection. and no insurgents TO be sent as
prisoners out of Cuba for political offences.
The advices received here are in sub
stance that Gen Pando felt confident OF
securing the conference, while on the other
hand Capt. Gen. Blanco, Secretary General
congosto and the Spanish staff officers OF
high rank and many radical members OF
the autonomist government felt sure that
the proposition being the best ever offered
and assuring practical independence,
would be accepted, that the rebellion
would be declared at an end, and that
consequently all excuse for Intervention
by the United States would be ended.
Such views, however, were not held
when this dispatch was sent by those best
acquainted with Gen. Gomez and his
chiefs, nor by the Spanish-Cuban mer-
chants. bankers, editors or lawyers, the
best class in Havana. The latter were
sure that nothing but this proposition OF
Monte Cristo (the granting OF an indenn1-
ty 10 Spain but absolute Independence for
Cuba would ever be considered by Gen.
Gomez or any of his principal followers
In support of the latter view, II Is Of
ficialy announced that after all the forces
near Manzanillo, only two privates Of SAL
vator Ruiz's band have surrendered. 1t Is
known besides that Gen. Pando in order
TO advance his plans for the proposed
campaign in Santiago de Cuba, greatly
weakened all the trochas. taking from
them several thousand men and much
artillery
1t is regarded as certain In well in
formed circles here that Gems. Gomez and
Garcia, after refusing to confer with Gen.
Pando or, IL they do confer, after refus-
ing the terms offered, will take sufficient
cattle and provisions from the compare,
lively well-stocked ranches imendiatelv
west and then inaugurate a raid upon the
provinces of Matanzas Havana and prob
ably Pinar del Rio, appearing near here
within fifteen or eighteen days, which is
considered possible.
Letters received here from prominent
autonomists In the provinces OF Santa cla-
ra and Puerto Principe, have been shown
10 this correspondent. The writer's are
not favorable to the United States. they
still cling 10 the theory Of autonomy. ana
class as false the assertions that the span-
ish soldiers are UNPAID and unfed and
living in towns, while their officers are
conspiring against The autonomist govern