The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-09-17
CUBAN GOVERNMENT
 TRYING FOR PEACE
DECREE SIGNED BY PALMA FOR INDEFINITE SUSPENSION
 OF HOSTILITIES.

Great Surprise in Havana as This is
 Complete Reversal of Governments
 Attitude--Desire to Avoid Any Kind
 of InterventiOn--NO Peace Terms Yet
 Arranged-Governmen Not Likely to
 Agree to AnnuI EIectiOns-Question
 Whether Insurgents Will Accept
 Terms.
 Havana, Sept. 16.-After consulta- ton with the leading men who are un- der arrest here, charged with conspir- acy, and enissaries of the revolution ists, the government has announced the indefinite stoppage of all hostilities on its part with the object of making peace before Secretary Taft arrives or the United States intervenes.
 The government this evening is mak- ing final and vigorous efforts to restore peace in Cuba and thus avoid any kind of American intervention. The object of these endeavors, it is stated, is thai it may be able, by the time Secretary of War Taft and Acting Secretary or State Bacon arrive, that peace already has been secured and that therefore there is no need for the American gov- ernment's intervention, either to re- store peace or insurgents permanent tranquility.
 Members of the government informed the Associated Press that they are making the efforts in accordance with the advice contained in President Roosevelt's letter; that they have no objection to the friendly assistance of the United States in the matter if It becomes necessary, but that they be- lieve they can settle 1t between the government and the reyolutionists without the necessity of any interven- tion. At least, they say, they are n1ak- ing an attempt to accomplish this end unaided, and with fair prospects of suc- cess.
 This is the latest phase of a rapidly changing situation that developed tnls afternoon, when an extraordinary ga- zette was issued containing decree signed by President Palma on the rec ommendation of Secretary of Public Works Montalvo. The decree follows;
 "All campaign operations are sus- nended. and in consequence the govern ment forces will act only on the defen- sive throughout the republic. The sec- retary of the interior will issue all nec- essary orders for the execution of this decree"
 The decree caused great surprise, as it was believed to signify change of heart by the government officials, who for the past two days have been strongly against taking up peace over- tires with the emissaries of the revolu- tionists. The Associated Press learns that to-days action had its beginning by General Menocals renewed effort in visiting Secretary MontaWo and urging him to make the strongest possible en- deavor to induce President Palma to comply with President Rooseyelt's ad- vice and avoid the consequence or ln- teryention by requesting truce ana endeavoring to have the Cubans tnenl- selves come to an agreement,
 secretary Montalvo and General Nanocal first visited Jose Miguel Gomez and others of the alleged conspiratofs fin the prison and found them Wlllihs to cooperate in securing peace. The has;s of peace was not discussed in any detail but Secretary Montovalo return ed to the palace and urged Presloeht Palma to consider the matter. The ,,raa,dent called a conference for this aftarroon which was attended by the r,lnjstars Vice President Mandez Ca note General Freyre tAndrade, and sen- ator Dolz. The result of this confer ance was the issuance of the decree srsnending governmental campaign op- erations.
 After the decree was issued govern mental emissaries were dispatched to confer with the resolutionists. Gen Freyr Andrado when asked about the terms discussed at the conference WILT the revolutionists, said that the mattei had not got far enough along to dls cuss actual peace terms. The confereeS had only +onched them informally, ht declared, but one thing was certalli- that the government would never agre' No annul constitutional elections, and That contention must be eliminated from the claims of the revolutionists He thought there was reason 10 nellev' that the government and the hostll element would meet together on terms although this as yet was uncertain
 The general said that the governmen' anpreciated the friendly efforts of thu United States and would avail itself O 4 them if it's own efforts were unsuccess' ful, but that naturally 1t preferred tt settle the trouble without intervention
 Simultaneously with the issuance o the decree declaring a cessation of hos tilities the special judge in charge O the cases against the alleged consplra tors, in prison and prisoners recentf captured, liberated thirty of the latte against whom indictments had been is sued.
 According to Commander Colwell, Al fredo zayas asked for immunit aboard the Denver, on which he hat hoped to be able to go to the United States.
 Previous to this afternoons develop ments the situation had about resolved itself into condition where the liberal were declaring that if the United State assisted the administration they woult fight the intervening forces, while tn moderates were saying that if the in terventionists helped to depose Presi dent Palma they would become insur