Smyrna times., 1906-09-26

sursents.
Sunday, when it was announced that
the Liberals and the insurgents had
empowered a committee to represent
them before the American mediatOrs.
It is evident that the business in
terests of the island have no conn
dence in the ability of the Cubans to
rule themselves, and now, when it ap-
pears too late, they are openly favor
ing Intervention and possibly annexa-
ton.
Secretary of War Taft is cogniZant
of this general opinion that peace can
not last unless it is enforced By an
American army, but he considers that
it is the duty of the United States
to give the republic another chance,
and believes that it would be bad pol
icy for the United States to keep a
force in Cuba. longer than was re-
uuired to supervise the laying down of
arms. He said that il the Liberals
and Moderates harmonic their difer-
enees the United States must regard
Jthe compact as made in good faith.
That will come as the result Of the
mediation of the United States is now
believed by Cubans, regardless OF party
affiliatiOn. but whether it will be on
terms which will insure permanent
tranquility is questioned.
Secretary Taft and Assistant Secre-
tary of State Bacon spent Sunday
quietly, receiving few persons. Repre-
sentatives of the veterans and of the
dimplomatic corps made brief visits.
Senator Alfredo Zayas later met the
mediators at the American legation
and arranged for their first meeting
with the insurgents and Liberals COM
mittee. All conferences hereafter will
be held at the legation on account of
its accessibility. since all OF the visi-
tors to Messrs. Taft and Bacon reside
in Havana.
When the diplomatic Representatives
of the foreign powers visited Mr. Nor
gan's villa at Marianao, Mr.. Taft sig
nificantly stated that he could give
them no definite assurances Of peace
for the reason that terms had not beer
put forward. This statement was il
response to an expression from Gay
tan de Ayala, the Spanish minister
that the world expected the United
States to settle the turmoil on sucl
gereous but firm conditions as to main
tain the integrity of the republic.
Among the other callers at Mariana
were Generals Meocal and Agramonte
who congratulated Messrs. Taft an,
Bacon on their success in bringing tn
Moderate and the Liberal leaders to
realization of the necessity of eac
making some concessions. The veter
ans evidenced sympathy with many G
the principles for which the insurgent
took up arms. They suggested tina
the first basis of the negotiation
should be for the revision of the Cuba
constitution, alleging that it confer
too much power and too little respons
bility upon the members of the cab
net.
The nearest insurgent camp, nes
La Lisa, just west of Marianao, We
visited by great crowds of Havanes
Ensouraged by the reports that peat
was imminent, the people for the fir
time dared to crafty their curiosit
and to show their great sympatf
with the revolutionary cause. A
though it was raining this d
not dampen the ardor of tho
who wished TO visit the insurgent
Many extra cars were in operatio
and every kind Of conveyance W
used by the crowd, but these were
sufficient, and many persons walk
the twelve miles from Havana to t
camp. 1t is feared that the effect
this enthusiasm may be bad in t
event that the peace terms require t
rebels to make decided concessions.
the rebel camps are thousands of I
groes, to whom revolutionary life
easy and interesting as compared w
labor on plantations. Some of
more refined of the officers, howev
admit that they would not be sorry
return to their homes.