The Washington times., 1906-09-18

HAVANA, Sept. 1S.-Eforts Of
the "peacemakers" who are busy
today trying to arrange "a COM
promise between Tie government
and the insurgents at the gates of
the city before the arrival of Sec
retaries Taft and Bacon are now be-
ing directed toward trying TO in
duce all members of congress to
proffer their designations.
Palmas resignation is regarded
as sure to be forthcoming at the
proper moment. If the senators and
representatives viii resign it will
leave the way open for holding new
elections, the main demand of the
insurgents.
So far the peace commissioners
have not met with great success in
their endeavors to effect a settle
ment. After giving the commission
ers to understand they would give
liberal terms 10 the insurgents in
order 10 reach an immediate agree
ment, the government authorities
when confronted with representa-
tives of the rebels, backed down
and insisted on standing by their
original propositions.
Insurgents Are Insisrent.
With the advantage they possess in
the field the insurgents declined 10 be
robbed of what they considered the
fruits OF their victory and would not
come 10 the government s terms. New
. elections and Palma retirement have
now been set by them as the minimum
which they viii agree II.
With the arrival of Seer etaTles Iats
Cnd Bacon q general retirement OF
Palma underllngs from good paying
government positions Is expected. senior
HaVla. director of the state department,
las set the example ny 0Irrlng MS
resignation. In. practically All the ue-
paTtmcntS. it is said there are men VINO
do not care to submit 10 close investi-
cation of the affairs Of their offices by
the American commissioners. Iheir
designations are expected as soon as II
becomes definitely knONn secretary
Taft Intends TO begin an examination
of the government.
Secretary Taft Is expected here early
tomorrow morning Both sides are
anxious TO settle the trouble before Mr.
IatJs arrival and every effort VIII be
made today u remove the deadlock
which existed yesterday, so that when
N-tt Janus Ai4t Aa1A-b4Af " ia bE
able 20 present 10 him text of agree
ment FOR his approval rather than TO
nave 70 appear before him as an arbi-
traitor
If the rebels agree to any terms less
sweeping than the retirement of the
government and new elections II is prob
ahle theN VIII insist that the United
States give guarantees that the CuDan
government %iil 1--we up TO promises II
makes. the Insurgents A promise from
rama the insurgents would not con-
slider worth anything
LCynaZ del Castillo Is the bull in the
Cuban china shop now. and unless ne is
, talked over 10y his companions in arms
there is no hope that peace VIII he ar
ranged before the arrival OF the Ameri-
can commissioners. Castillo declares
that he is willing 10 agree 10 a truce
and stop fighting, but will agree To No
final settlement except on the full terms
for which the rebels took the field un-
TIL after the whole situation has been
presented TO Secretaries Taft and
Bacon. II IS said that he is backed uu
in this position by Pine Guerra. while
his own subOrdinates at a meeting held
at Beiucal unanimously decided 70 sup
mort him With Castillo and Guerra
holding off il is practically certain that
Gonzman and Asbert viii take the same
stand
so while what purports 10 be peace
conferences are in progress between Al
fredo Zayas and MputalVo as principal
negotiatOrs. there is little hope of these
amounting 10 anything unless the meT
who are i'm actual command OF The hght-
ing force of the rebellion can bt
brought around and the possibility
seems remote within the short time
which VIII eiapse before Mr.. Taft anC
Mr.. Bacon win arrive here.