The record-union., 1898-03-19
MAY AID RECONCILIATION.
Distinguished Assemb1age of Span
ish and Cuban Officials.

WASHINGTON, March 1S.-A dis
tinglished assemblage of officials rep
resenting in their several capacities the
Spanish Government and the insular
Government Of Cuba met here to-day.
They include the Spanish Minister, who.
in this instance, acts as the special
plenipotentiary officer for the negotia-
ton of commercial treaties Senior
Manual Rafael Angulo, special delegate
of the Cuban Government; Senior Leo
nine Narela, Secretary of the Chamber
of Commerce of Havana, joint commits
sioner, and Senor Cadrana of the Gu
ban finance division, joint commits
sioner.
Primarily these officials have met to
open the negotiations for commercial
treaties between the United States,
Spain and Cuba, but in view of the
present condition of affairs, it is not
improbable that their connections with
all The official branches of the Spanish
and Cuban Governments will permit
their deliberations to take wider
range.
Senior Varela comes direct from TIa-
vana, accompanied by Senor William
Oracle, his Secretary. Senior Angulo
came from Havana some weeks ago,
stopping first at New York, and arriv-
ing here last night. He is accompanied
by Nine. Angulo. Senior Cadrana will
arrive tomorrow, being now en- route
from Havana.
In anticipation of the meeting at
Senor Cadrana's arrival, the Spanish
Minister has conferred with Commls-
sionar Kasson, with q view of making
general arrangements for the opening
of negotiations.
The reciprocity treaties which it is
proposed to negotiate have been under
consideration by both Governments for
some time. Considerable preliminary
work was accomplished by Minister
Woodford and the Spanish authorities
at Madrid. This is now to be carried
forward, and in execution of the au-
tonomy plan that gives the Cubans
control of their tariff affairs, Messrs.
Angulo Varela and Cadrana have
been designated by the Cuban Cabinet
to represent that body. Coming at this
time of emergency, however, the sug-
gestion has been made that the Cuban
commissioners would not eonfine their
efforts strictly to commercial affairs,
if the opportunity presented of aiding
a reconciliation of the insurgents. That
this is in view cannot be confirmed in
any official quarter but it is thought
that such 4, move would be made, if
there were any promise of it's sue
cess.
Senior Anguelo who is at the head Of
the commissioners appointed b. the
Cuban CabineA talked freely to-day
concerning the purposes of his mis-
sion. Mr.. Anguelo said that his au-
thority was confined strictly to COM
mercial affairs between the United
States and The present emer-
gency might involve features which
the Cuban Government would desire
him to act upon, but that would re-
uuire further instructions, as his only
present purpose was to deal With the
commercial treaty.
Mr.. Anguelo said the Cuban people
desired self government. Heretofore
he had felt that Spain was not willing
to grant real autonomy. When, how
ever. Spain put into force the present
autonomous plan, it was accepted BY
the NEST advanced autonomlsts in
Cuba as fully meeting their desires. He
and others who had always belonged
TO the radical autonomist wing were
convinced, he said, that when the
passions of the moment passed away
all Cubans would accept autonomy as
giving them home rule in its fullest
sense.
The delay in subduing the insurgents
and the failure of that element to ac-
cept autonomy was due, Mr. Anguelo
said. TO the passion engendered by
Weylers policy. As these changes did
not affect Spanish sovereignty, he had
no doubt that Spain would accept