Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-11

nave Sre6Iy alOeQ the cnar1taple Work.
The President OF the American Red Cross.
and representatives Of other contributory
organisations have generously visited Cuba
and co-operated with the Consul General
and the local authorities to make effective
distribution Of the relief collected through
the efforts of the Central Committee. Near
ly 100000 in money and supplies has al
ready reached the sufferers. and more Is
fe rthcoming. The supplies are admitted
duty free. and transportation to the IN
terror has been arranged, so that the relief,
at hrSt necessarily confined to Havana and
the larger cities, is now extended through
most, If not all, of the towns where suf-
fering exists.
Thousands Of lives have already been
saved. TIE necessity for a change in the con-
dition OF the reconcentrados L. recognized
by the Spanish government. Within a few
days past the orders Of General Weyler have
been revoked: the reconcentrados are, it IL
said, to be permitted to return to their
homes. and aided to resume the self-sup-
porting pursuits Of peace; public works
have been ordered to give them employ
inert, and sum Of 5000 600 has been ap-
pIopriated for their relief
The war in Cuba Is of such a nature that
short Of subjugaticn or determination a
final military victory for either side seems
in.practicable. The alternative lies in the
physical exhaustion Of the one or the other
party, or perhaps Of both-a condition
which in effect ended the ten years war
by the Truce of Zapjon. The prospect of
such protraction and conclusion of the
present strife is d contingency hardly to be
contemplated with equanimity by the ciy<
ilized world. and least of all by the United
States. affected and injured as we are,
deeply and intimately by its very existence.
An Immediate End of the War.
Realizil g this, 1t appeared to be my duty
in spirit Of true friendliness, no less to
Spain than to the Cubans, who have so
much to lose by the prolongation of the
struggle, to seek to bring about an imme-
date termination of the war. To this end
l submitted, on the 9th ultimo as a result
Of much representation and correspondence,
through the United States minister at
Madrid. propositions to the Spanish gov
ernment looking to an armistice until Oc-
tober first for the negotiation of peace with
the good offices Of the President.
In addition, 1 asked the immediate revo-
cation Of the order Of recommendation SO
as to permit the people to return to their
farms and the needy to be relieved with
provisions and supplies from the United
States. cooperating with the Spanish au-
thorities, SO as to afford full relief.
The reply Of the Spanish cabinet was re-
ceived on the night Of the 31st uHimo. 1t
offers. as the means 10 bring about peace
in Cuba, to conflde the preparation thereof
to the insular parliament, inasmuch as
the concurrence of that body would be
necessary to reach final result, it being
however. understood that the powers re-
served by the constitution to the central
government are not lessened or diminished.
As the Cuban parliament does not meet
until the 4th Of May next, the Spanish
government would not object, for its part
to accept at once suspension of hostili-
ties If asked for by the insurgents from the
general-in-chief. to whom it would pertain.
in such cases, to determine the duration
and conditions Of the armistice.
The propositions submitted by General
Woodford and the reply of the Spanish
Government were both in the form of brief
memoranda, the texts Of which are before
me-and are substantially In the language
above given. The function of the Cuban
Parliament in the matter of preparing
peace and tie manner of It's doing so are
but from General Woodford's explanatory
reports Of preliminary discussions preced-
ing the final conference 1t is understood
that the Spanish Government stands ready
to give the insular Congress full powers to
Settle the terms Of peace with the insur-
kerts-whether by direct negotiation or in
directly by means Of legislation does not
appear
With this last overture in the direction Of
immediate peace. and It's disappointing re-
eeptioh by Spain. the Executive was
brought to the end Of his EFFORT.
In my annual message of December last
said:
"Of the untried measures there remain
only: Recognition Of the insurgents as
belligerehtss recognition Of the independ-
ence Of Cuba: neutral Intervention to end
the war by Imposing a rational compro-
mise between the contestants. and inter-
vention In favor Of one or the other party
speak not Of forcible annexation, for
that cannot be thought Of That. by our
code Of morality, would be criminal ag-
gression."
Grants Words in 1915.
In the light Of President Grants measured
words. uttered In 1875 when after seven
years Of sanguinary, destructive and cruel
hostilities in Cuba he reached the conclusion
that the recognition Of the Independence OF
Cuba was impracticable and indefensible;
and that the recognition of belligerence was
not warranted by the facts according to the
tests of public law. I commented especially
upon the latter aspect Of the question,
pointing out the Inconvenience and positive
dancers of a RECOGNITION of beIlieerence