The record-union., 1898-04-03
PREPARING FoR THE END.
Spain's Official Representatives in
Cuba Ready to Let Go.

NEW YORK, April 2.-Spain's Off
cial representatives in Cuba are prepar-
ing to let go. Nothing has, as yet,
been done to prepare the public for
the same thing, says the Havana cor
respondent of the Tribune" Blanco
and the palace officials hope for a final
effort to secure the Endorsement of the
United States for a scheme of nominal
sovereignty. The insurgents will not
accept that plan. even with the indorse-
ment of the United States.
With the certain knowledge that
nothing short of independence will pre-
vail. the chief interest is in the good of
reaching that end. A message can be
got to Gomez and an answer received
in six days The confidential talk in
Spanish circles is now of yielding con-
troll by means of indemnity, though
the amount is placed much higher than
Will ever be paid
The most pronounced evidence that
Spain is yielding comes from the Au-
tonomist Cabinet. The designations of
all the members may come at any day.
Good reasons exist for the statement
that Montoro, the Secretary of the
Treasury, and Gown, the Secretary of
their designations may be verbal De-
malls of this fact should be taken eau
tiously. Montoro is representative of
the historic Autonomists, who think
the original concession of the original
autonomy was enough As head of
the treasury, he has been Informed
that Spain Will hereafter expect the
Autonomist Government to provide
funds for carrying on the war. That
is enough to secure his resignation
for the task is an impossible one
Gown, on his part, ac chief Of the
Radical faction, undertook to accent
"amplified autonomy" That is a fail
ure, and Gown is of no further use
to the sagasta Ministry, except as a
scapegoat. The appearances are that
the entire Autonomist Cabinet will be
used as a scapegoat for the Spanish
public.
General Blanco's bando which per-
mits the reconcentrados to go back to
the country without entail is valueIess
as q practical measure It might have
done some good in November Now
when women and children constitute 2
very great majority of the reconcen-
trados. it has no real bearing on the
conditions. AT first the tsbando" was
thought to be a diplomatic move TO
checkmate President McKinIey's policv
of forcibly succoring the. reconcentra-
dos, if necessary. That may have been
one purpose. yet the issuance of the
bando is a confession that the insurrec-
ton cannot be put down by Spain,s
arms. The return of the people in large
numbers to their homes would give tbe
revolution increased strength.
No effort has yet been made bv the
authorities to moderate the war senti-
ment of the Spanish classes in Havana
The papers published attacks on Amer
leans, with the pretense of showing
how formidable is the Spanish SQUAD
ron. The majority of tn population
still think that war with the Tinted
States is an early probability. Peace
negotiations Will have to be unfolded RI
them gradually. These negotiations do
not quench the ardor of the Spanish
war party in Cuba This IL. possibIv
the last of the embarrassment of the
home Government in Madrid. howev4r
It's representatives here left the marital
feeling develop itself without check
They even encourage the idea that
Spain could safely venture on a war
with the United States. because the
European Powers would support her.