The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-26
PALMA DECIDES TO RESIGN.
CONTENTS or SECRETARY TAFT'S
LETTER 70 HIN.


" ~
Special Gable Despatch to TIT SUN.
Havana. Sept. 26.-In view VI the refusal
Of President Palma to accept the proposals.
made by the American Commissioners,
Mr.. Taft says he wishes IL to he clearly
understood that he has not delivered a
verdict in the matter. He wrote q letter
TO President Palma containing the basis
Of the peace arrangement, which he CMr.
Taft had accepted, and he asked President
Palma to Use his good Offices TO obtain its
acceptance by the Government party.
At the same time. however. he left the way
open for the President and the Moderate
party to make suggestions or a counter
proposition. President Palma appears to
ave regarded the letter as q verdict. and
he informed Mr.. Taft hat he would
resign 10 Congress.
Mr.. Taft would not say what kind Of a
situation this would create, but the idea OF
the Moderates il probably to bring about a
situation which would leave the Govern
ment void
The Discussion publishes a resume Of Mr.
Taft's letter to President Palma to the
following effect:
Mr.. Taft begins by analysing the political
situation and the causes that led to the
revolution. n says that the difficulties
in the way prevent the commission from
grasping the case, as a court OF justice
| might, 30 az to decide whether or not the
accusations Of the rebels are true.
Nevertheless, the letter appears to indi-
cate that there was illegahty in the elections
on September %, 1905, and also on December
/, 1905. II adds that about Is 900 men are
in arms In the republic. A ma jority Of the
people appear favorable to the revolution.
Secretary Montalvo had stated to the COM
mission hat the Government was unable to
dominate.
Finally, the letter says, although the
Government might end the revolution by
armed force, il could not prevent immense
damage to property by war. The letter
praises President Palma for his manage
ment and for having raised the credit OF
Cuba, and adds that the commission con-
siders necessary his continuation at the
mead Of the Government, and that consti-
t~utional order would suffer IL he did not re-
main.
He should not resign. Even il the Liberal
party had not withdrawn from the elections
President Palma would have been elected.
Regarding the elections Of new members
Of Congress, provincial councils and q Woe
Blu NhC AOebtt Doyo NAoN ~
decided exactly who would nave been
elected TO these offices il the Liberals had
not withdrawn and suggests the resigna-
ton Of all the functionaries elected at the
last election with the exception OF PRESIDENT
Palma, h electorate being convened for q
new election on January 1, 1907.
designations should he made immedia-
tely by the Senators and Representatives;
by Governors and Counsellors fifteen days
later.
Regarding the removal Of the Ayun-
tamientos the Impressions are contradic-
tory. IA in some cases the proximity Of the
date OF removal to the elections appears
to indicate the intention Of the Govern
ment TO control the elections.
In other cases the removal appears to
nave been justified. The removal Of the
ayuntamiento Of Havana was subsequent
TO the elections and was lone to improve
IL by putting in persons not connected with
politics. The letter proposes that new
municipal elections be held on January 1.
Il reminds President Palma that when
he was inaugurated for his first term he
appointed a Cabinet that was not political
in it's character, though for reasons OF
patriotism it was decided later to have a
government OF the Moderate party.
This was advisable in an organized
. regime. but this does not appear at present
in Cuba, a. there Ia no fundamental diner-
ance between the parties save on the ques-
ton Of personalities.
The resignation Of the present Cabinet
is recommended, as is also the drawing
up Of an electoral law and municipal laws
Immediately by a committee OF lawyers Of
| both parties, presided over by an American
lawyer. Organic laws and laws governing
the judiciary and civil service are also
recommended.
The letter concludes by saying il is feared
| that the solutions indicated might induce
President Palm to resign, but he might
suggest other solutions, and the American
commissioner would do all they could to
accept them. Even II this could not be
lone President Palma Is asked TO make one
more sacrifice and remain President.
To this letter Senior Palma replied that
the proposals were not acceptable and that
his decision TO resign was Interchangeable.
All the Secretaries and all the chiefs
OF departments have resigned. President
Palma has issued a special decree converting
Congress for September ~.
A meeting OF Moderates. consisting OF
! members Of Congress belonging to that
party, was held this afternoon to consider
the letter. Vice President Capote presided.
The general tone Of the speeches was
that the proposals were not acceptable, AZ
they meant the triumph Of the minority,
which had appealed TO violence and threat
ened the country vita destruction.
II was decided to reply that the Moderate
party could not accept the proposals. It
was decided not 70 abandon their positions,