Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-02-10
WORKING FOR PEACE
Negotiations Between the United
States and the Insurgents.
SETTLEMENT on A FINANCIAL BASIS.
Massing Of United state. Warships at the
lsiand-The Cost OF the Cuban War
to the spaniards stated to BE
e240,0OO,OOO.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-Secret nego-
tiations are now actually In progress
between the state department and the
insurgents in Cuba looking TO the
stoppage of the war on some financial
basis, to be agreed upon hereafter.
President Mckinley has not yet recog-
nized the insurgents as belligerents,
and, he cannot, therefore, treat with
them openly, as he would do with q
diplomatic representative Of an indie
pendent nation. Direct communities
ton has been had within the last few
weeks between the insurgent govern.
ment and the administration here.
The insurgents have expressed perfect
willingness to assume a reasonable
share Of the Spanish bonds issued
against the Cuban revenues The
proposition has been considered with
some favor and the president and his
cabinet have discussed several plans
for guaranteeing the Cuban debt on
the sole basis Of independence These
negotiations have gone side by side
with the gradual massing of ships Of
the North Atlantic within striking dis
lance of Cuba. Orders were sent
Wednesday to the cruiser Mont
gomery to sail at once for the
harbor of Matanzas, and the ship
is likely to be there quite as unex-
pectedly as the Maine arrived in
Havana. The orders issued to its com
mander contemplate report direct to
Consul Brice, at Matanzas, where
there has been some indication of riot
ing. Should everything be found
peaceable the ship will proceed to
Santiago de Cuba, but should affairs
look threatening at Matanzas another
ship will quietly be slipped to the
latter port, and before Capt. Gen.
Blanco knows what is happening to
him American ships will be in the har-
Dor of every important port in Cuba.
This gradual occupation of the island
by naval force is understood to be
part and parcel of the negotiations
with the insurgents. When they are
concluded, if everything goes on well,
the United States will be in a position
to offer Spain heavy financial bonus
for giving up the island, while at the
same time the insurgents would find
themselves in a position to make a
junction with the United States naval
forces at any one of half dozen diff
ferent ports.
The fact is that the Montgomery has
been sent to Matanzas at the request
of the state department. Assistant
Secretary Day asked Secretary Long
to give the necessary instructions. A
cablegram was yesterday afternoon
sent by the state department to Con-
sui Brice at Matanzas notifying him
that the Montgomery is now en- route
to that port and directing him to make
the necessary arrangements for its re-
ception. Although it is not admitted
by the state department officials, the
impression prevails that Consul Brice,
in advising the department of the re-
cent riots occurring in Matanzas, sug-
gested that warship should be imme-
diately sent there for the protection of
American interests.
THE COST OF THE CUBAN WAR.
MADRID. Feb. A. The cost of the Gu
ban war from February, 1895, to the
end of 1897 is officially estimated at
$40, 600, 900, besides the arrears due
from the Cuban treasury, amounting
to $40, 10000