Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-09-21
Taft Gives Cubans No Alterna.
tive in an Ultimatum to
Leaders
BUSINESS INTERESTS SUFFER
Secretary Taft Believes That Prospect
of Loss of Independence Will Bring
Cubans to Time--Business Men Seek
Intervention, and Claim Loss Is Al
ready Very Heavy.

Havana, Sept. 21--His attempt to
bring about peace in Cuba met on all
sides with resistance, Secretary of War
Taft yesterday delivered to the warning
factions an ultimatum to the. effect
that they must at once choose between
peace or the loss of their independ-
ence.
Secretary Taft said last night that
while he was greatly discouraged over
the failure to bring the revolutionary
leaders and the Palma government
that the prospect of the loss of self
government would speedily bring both
factions to their senses and assure
an early and lasting peace on the is
land.
War Causes Stupendous Loss.
Cuban, Spanish, American and other
of uniting in a petition to Secretary
Taft and Assistant Secretary of State
Bacon, urging some radical form of
intervention or annexation. The COM
merclal affairs of Cuba have suffered
during the present brief conflict more
severely, say many of these business
men, than thruout the entire ten years
war. Hardly a shipment has left the
Havana wholesale houses or manufac-
tories during the last ten days.
Financial circles are aghast at the
stupendus injury wrought to the COM
mercial interests of the island, and
business men are awaiting with great
anxiety an opportunity to meet Messfs.
Taft and Bacon, who are looked to to
save the credit Of cuba.
Gives Warning Of Intervention.
The only counsel to the political lead
ers given by MIR. Taft was ON the sub
ject of not engaging in further agita-
ton that might make Intervention by
the United States necessary. This adj
vice he offers freely to all whom he
gives audience, regardless of party.
Mr. Taft has made it clear that the
United States is not seeking to exercise
control over the island or any of it's
affairs, but he has quoted President
Roosevelts letter to Minister Quesada
a duty which it cannot shirk
To those whom he has met in confer
ence Mr.. Taft has said that now is the
time to decide whether they would
have Cuba live as a nation. He has
weighed every word carefully and has
neither upheld nor criticised the prin-
ciples of either faction.
Dubious of Universal Peace
Whether the men they have met in
Havana represent the sentiment of the
entire island is a question that is
troubling the American mediators.
There is some fear that even If the en-
tanglement is Strengthened out here the
opposing forces in Santa Clara and Pr
mar del Rio provinces and even in San
tiago, will not be satisfied.
Mr. Taft realizes that unless the ma :
tional spirit is aroused the commercial
interests will have no confidence in any
settlement that may be reached. On
this point the mediators, are confront
ed with their chief difficulty, for no
way has been devised to obtain the
sentiments of those in the field without
treating with armed forces, which
might be regarded as a recognition of
the insurgents.
Senator Alfredo Zayas is generally
regarded as the official representative
Of the revolution, but he can not claim
that distinction in negotiating with
Secretary Taft, as that would make
him a revolutionist and terminate free
intercourse with President Roosevelts
representatives.