The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-06
SENATOR CHANDLER
REVEALS WAR SECRETS

| about the whole subject, equivocates in his re-
| ply:
| April s. 1893. Mr.. Woodord to Mr.. Day! "In
answer TO your inquiry to whether the peace
am so confedent OF securing means the inde.
| pendeneo of. Cuba, reply that believe that II
| armisticc, without any conditions had been lie
creed by Spanish government lasting until next
Oetober, the negotiations between now and then
| would have resulted in either an autonomy which
| the insurgents would have accepted, or in the
recognition by Spain Of the independence OF
Cuba, or in the ccssion of the island to the
United States. believe that immediate armistce
would have been followed by permanent peaee
but without immediate and unconditional arinis
tce, lasting until next October, have no hope Of
| successful adjustment"
April 8, 1893, Mr.. Woodford asks the president
IL the queen will proclaim a suspension OF lostil.
ities in the language which he gives, before noon
OF April O, twill you sustain the queen and can
you prevent hostile action by congress2" And
he adds 'HT believe that this means peace,
which the sober Judgment Of our people will APP
prove long before next November and which must
be approved at the bar OF final history"
April 8, 1898, Mr.. Day replies to Mr.. Woodford,
saying that peace and stable government in Cuba
is required. II Spain will authorize an armstiee
the president will communicate that fact to con.
gress that tile presidents message will go to con-
gress tomorrow. "Ic will not advise the recog.
milton of the independence of the insurgents but
will recommend measures looking TO peace and
stability of government"
Still Mr.. Woodford continues to be hopeful and
nourshes his own plan Ito be hereafter de.
soribed), for which he will continue to labor.
April 8, 1903, Mr. Woodford recitcs to Mr.. Day
his telegram Of April TO the president, in which
he says II am sure that before next October
will get peace in Cuba with justice to Cuba and
,N.n nattD s,,l1Y
To the Spanish minister, however, he talks
mournfully:
April g. 1908. Mr. Woodford to Minister Gullon
rcoites the Presidents message and expresses his
sorrow that Spain has not proclaimed an i'm
mediate and effective ar1nisticc or suspension Of
hostilitcs in Cuba lasting for sufficient length
of time to enable passions to cease and obtain
permanent and honorable peace in Cuba
To Secretary Sherman, Mr.. Woodord continues
to give encouragement,
April s, 1898, Mr.. Woodford reports to Mr.. Shcr.
man two newspaper interviews which he has
given out and closes by saying: 'Thc sober
sense Of Spain is slowly but surely coming 70
the front, and few days (it these few days still
can be had) will see a crystallized public senti.
ment that will sustain the present Spanish govern
ment, If that government has the immediate cour-
age to do at once the things that are necessary
for peace"
Mr. Woodford continues to hope because Of the
approaching armistice.
April o. 1905, Mr.. Woodiord to Mr. Day reports
that at the request OF the Pope and six great
European powers an armistico is proclaimed
through General Blanco
notwithstanding this proclamation of aImistice,
war cnsucs and Mr. Woodford comes home to find
that Cuba has been given independence, not
through his negotiations, in which such inde.
pcndcncc had never been asked for but by war
which the United States had declared
Woodford's Plan.
In order to comprehend the reasons why Mr..
Woodford never asked Spain to yield independence
to Cuba, it is essential TO pursue further inquiry
into the diplomatic correspondence.
March 0, 1893, Mr.. Woodford writes to the
president an account of his interview with we'll
known Spanish merchant about the transfer OF
Cuba to the United States upon a sale. Mr..
WoOdford urged chat selling would be the best
course, and he reports that the Spaniards are
beginning to talk about the advisability of selling
Cuba If the United States is willing to buy.
March II, 1898, No. 43, Mr.. Woodford TO the
PRESIDENT States that tic gentleman with whom
he had previously corverscd called again and said
that Spain would never sell the island, but Mr..
Woodford says: "The thought OF sale is today in
the air at Madrid. Today / have more faith in
possible peace than have had since sailed from
New York. IL is possible that you can buy Cuba
make it advisable for me to be authorized to at
least discuss the matter with the queen or with
Moret, II she or lie should broach the subject"
II have at last come TO believe that the only
certainty of peace is under our flag. am thus
reluctantly, slowly, but entirely convert to the
American occupation und ownership of the island.
II we recognize independence, VIC may turn the
island over to part of its inhabitants against
the Judgment Of many OF its educated and wealthy
residents Ii We advise the insurgents to accept
autonomy, we may do injustice to men who have
fought hard and well for liberty, and they may
not get justice from the insular government
should it once obtain control of the island. We
may in either event only foster conditions that
will lead to continuous disorder. Ii we have
war we must finally occupy and ultimately own
the island. Ii today we could purchase at reason.
able price we should avoid the horrors and the
expense OF war, and YOU as soldier know what
war is, even when wagcd for the holest cause.
| therefore ask Your permission to treat.
Here Mr. WOodiOrd declares himself uncquivocal.
ly against Cuban independence and in favor OF
obtaining Cuba for the United States by purchase.
His last sentence ends in the Red book with three
stars as it does above. The secretary Of state
has not yet thought it wise to make public what
the Whole sentence was. But the American pco.
pie now ought TO know. At all events, Mr.
Woodford frankly told his plan OF purchase TO the
Spanish government.
March IS, lsGS, No. A. Mr.. Woodiorl to the
president: Reports an interview with Senor Moret.
1t appears that he said to sloret:
Il do not believe that autonomy will give
peace in Cuba under the Spanish flag. Nor do
believe that the insurgents can secure peace and
good order under free, or independent govern
ment. The Spanish flag cannot give
peace. The rebel flag cannot give peace. There
is hut one flag that can secure peace and compel
peace. That power is the United States, and
that flag is our flag"
lie asked: rs that your serious and settled
iudgment?"
simply answered: at is.'
1t appears that Mr. Woodford directly proposed
that senor Aloret should obtain authority from
Spain while he obtained authority to act
for the United States, and that the United States
should pay fixed sum in purchase of the island.
And Mr.. Woodford ends this letter by repeating:
"My faith in settlement gets stronger"
The language of this proposition should be read
in fnl:
POSSIBLY, ii Your government would authorize
you to act for Spain and my government would
authorize me to act for the United States we
could come TO an agreement on some such general
basis as this: The United States to pay fixed
sum for the purchase OF the island; part OF
such price to be retained as fund for the pay.
ment OF all claims due from the United States to
Spain or to Spanish citizens, and from Spain TO
the United States, or to citizens of the United
states such claims to be determined by a mixed
commission to be hereafter appointed; that the
agreement to sell need not be expressed in the
memorandum that should be published, which
might only provide for adjustment OF all differ.
ences between the two nations with the British
queen as arbitrator in case of disagreement, but