The record-union., 1898-04-06
CABINET MEETING.
The Presidents Message the Sub
jeet Under Disco. sion.

| WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE Cabi-
net meeting to-day was not of unusual
! duration, but extreme difficulty was en-
countered in obtaining details concern
| ing it. \ Cabinet officer, however, au-
| thoriZed this much: The situation on
! the Spanish affair remains unchanged
The Presidents message is practically
! completed, and is now being copied. The
present purpose is to send it to Congress
! Tomorrow The message and the gem
eral condition of affairs was discussed.
OF course, quite fully, but no changes
had appeared which required any elab-
crate discussion.
After the Cabinet meeting it was
learned that it is practically settled that
in his forthcoming message the Presi-
dent will not make any recommendation
! looking to the immediate recognition of
Cuban Independence. The withholding
of this recommendation is not because
/ of Indifference to the Cuban cause, but is
based upon the fact, as the President
views it, that the insurgents have not
! established any Government of their
own, or such Government at least as
would warrant the United States, under
the we'll defined principles of interna-
/
urged in support of this view that by re-
cognizing Cuba as an independent Gov
eminent the United States might under
certain circumstances be placed at
great disadvantage. In case this Gov
eminent should take possession of the
island, and the insurgents should see fit
to infiict capital punishment upon men,
! bers Of the present autonomist or other
! nc bn,, I,
! special enmity, this Government, having
recognized their independence, would
then be powerless to prevent any action
the Cuban Government might see tit to
take The better and safer way
would be for the United States to take
control of the island, if necessary. to
prevent further bloodshed and admins
ter its affairs, or at least supervise its
administration, in the interest of JUS
| tice and humanity, until Spain and Cuba
themselves, if possible. have settled the
whole question. What further action
shall be taken will be dictated by the
facts and conditions as they present
| themselves
The situation of our consular officers,
| it was thought, required that care be
exercised on their behalf. The Cabinet
| had this matter under consideration.
! What conclusions were reached cannot
| be stated, but it is known arrangements
| have been perfected by which they are
to leave the island within a very short
time
A telegram was received to-day from
| Minister WOodford expressing the re-
greet of the Spanish Cabinet that the
erroneous dispatch had been published
that the Pope had agreed to mediate
between Spain and the United States at
the suggestion of this country.
The statement was made to-day by a
public man in close touch with the
Administration that the effort to secure
settlement of the war between Spain
and the insurgents through an armis-
Tee had come to definite conclusion
| and that the failure was due to the re-
fuSal of the Government of the United
states to remove it's fleet from Key
west. According to this statement
SPAN made removal a condition pre-
cedent to her offering an armistice with
the end in view of granting the indie
pendence of Cuba, and this proposition
was met with q refusal. though not
untll after it had been seriously con-
sldered. The Congressional opponents
OF war policy who had counted upon
the acceptance of this condition by the
united States admit that the outlook
Tor peace has grown almost hopeless
since this determination.