The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-03-30
AN uLTIMATuM To sPAIK.
President McKinleys Program is to ASK
for an Armistice and Negotiations
for Independence.


WASHINGTON. March 27.-while Pres
ident Mckinley will send the report of
the Maine court of inquiry 10 Congress
tomorrow, accompanied by brief mes
sage, the present crisis will not be sharp
ly accentuated until Tuesday or Wednes-
day, when he will send in another mes
sage dealing with the condition of the
non-combatants in Cuba and asking for
an appropriation of $4,000 for their i'm
mediate relief
The Presidents program contemplates
that this condition of affairs shall again
be presented to Spain; that that country
shall be asked TO make provisions for the
care of her own helpless people and
come to some terms with the Cubans
which will be salts factory TO them and
put an end to the war.
If this representation fails to secure its
object the President will forcibly inter
vene in Cuba on humanitarian grounds.
But it is said tonight that the develop
ments of the day indicate steady prog
ress in the negotiations between the gov
ernment of this country aud that o.
SpainlookiDg to the maintenance of peact
for the present at least. There is no gOOc
authority for saying that Spain's presenl
wish is to secure a cessation Uf hOstilities
in Cuba rather than to engage in wal
with the United States, and that it is more
than probable that the negotiations be-
tween the government Of the United
States and the Sagasta ministry will take
that turn in the immediate future The
present Spanish ministry has protested
pacific disposition from the beginning,
and the indications are strong now that
it will avail itself of the good offices of
the United States to the fullest extent
that public opinion will allow in bring
ing to an end the hostilities in Cuba.
To what extent the United States may
go in assisting Spain in her present de-
sign of securing an arnistice is not yet
determined, but the conservative element
in the administration consider the mani
festation of this desire on the part of Spain
for even a temporary peace a direct result
of President McKinley's diplomacy, and
they are disposed TO contend that the
President should be left free for the pres
ent at least to pursue policy which
promises much in the way of preventing
war between this country and Spain, and
also of bringing to close the hostilities
in Cuba. On the part of the administra-
ton it is stated that the developments of
the situation will not require a great
length of time, and hence there will be
no extended delay
A policy has been fully determined
upon by the President. 1t is to bring the
Cuban war to a close. This will be ae-
eomplished by pointed intervention, if
necessary, but it is considered far prefer
able that the end should come as the re-
suit of peaceful negotiations than that it
should be accomplished by hostile demon
stratiOns on the part OF the United States.
Hence the disposition of the President is
to give Spain fair opportunity 70 secure
an armistice with the Cubans and 10 allow
her reasonable time in which to come TO
an understanding with the hostiles.
1t can be stated upon high authority
that there has been no abatement of the
Presidents intention to see that the war
is terminated upon terms that will render
the Cubans practically a free people. 1t
is not believed that they would accept
anything less. nor that Americans would
be satisfied if we should encourage set
tlement that would not be acceptable to
the Cubans. If there should now be an
armistice il would be with the concession
made by Spain at the instance of this
country that negotiations should be open
ed Immediately with the insurgents look
ing to the establishment of permanent
peace upon these terms. 1t has been long
the hope of the administration to bring
Spain to the point of making propositions
of this character as the basis of settle
ment most satisfactory to all parties, al d
it is hoped from Spain's attitude that this
time has arrived.