New-York tribune., 1906-09-23
A STEP TOCUBAN PEACE
Continued from first page.


condition that the rebels surrender their arms
and legally promise 10 accept and comply with
such decision. whatever il might be. While
these proposals are still unsatisfactory 10 the
Liberals and ridiculed by them weak and
not made in good faith. they have. nevertheless,
paved the way for suggestions by MessTs- Tart
and Bacon for further concessions from both
sides which may Yet preserve the republic with
out American intervention. The impression Is
that the suggestions Of the commissioners Will
include the retention Of President Palma and
perhaps Sefor Fonts Sterling. Secretary OF
the Treasury. with Manuel Despaigne. the Ad-
ministrator of Customs, in his present post or
in the Cabinet. Sehores Fonts Sterling and
Despaigne are highly esteemed by both Liberals
and MOderates sane and honorable business
men. The suggestion of the commissioners
probably also will include new general elections.
although there may be only arrangement for
choosing members Of the Cabinet, the present
Congress 10 continue until next years Congress
election
AT 1l:3O o'clock this morning Secretaries TAFT
and Bacon, accompanied by Consul General
SteinhaTt and Captain Mccoy. came in auto
mobile from Marianao To the palace where they
were in close conference with President Palma,
obtaining from him his ideas as TO what he was
willing should be done under the circumstances.
that the visit had been purely a friendly one,
and that the formal matters Of the controversy
had not been discussed.
After the conference Messrs. Taft and Bacon
returned the calls Of the officers OF the fleet in
the harbor, which now numbers nine vessels.
Crowds thronged the streets Mr.. Nor
gan's villa. and awaited the arrival Of the rebel
leaders. 1t was evident that the sentiment Of the
village was with the rebels. but the people feared
to applaud them.
Automobiles dashed to and from the villa re-
gardless Of speed limits. There were similar
scenes in front of SeaOr Infante's house IN the
afternoon account Of the expectations that
the prisoners and the rebel leaders would gather
there. Streets were crowded, but order was
maintained by the local police under the personal
direction OF the Mayor After the announce
nent that the prisoners had refused to accept
conditional release the crowd withdrew quietly,
but reassembIed again this evening
Notwithstanding Secretary Taft's request on
Friday. Acoste's iEsurgent outposts were to-day
less than a mile from Marianao. This served 20
increase the general excitement in the village IN
the afternoon and evening.
There was q persistent rumOr here to-day that /
President Palma had resigned or was about TO
resign, and would take refuge tonight on board
a warsnlp This was denied az the palace as
often it put forward.
All is reported quiet throughout the island
The rebels generally are strongly disposed 20 re-
sumo the warfare if the negotiations fail or If
their leaders believe they are unfairly treated.
About o'clock this afternoon Nine Rosalie
Abreu. a wealthy Havana woman who was re-
Gently arrested charged with holding conspiracy /
meetings at her home. and is now under heavy
bail. drove through the village OF Maranao in /
a four horse brake on her way TO pay visit 70
the rebel camp.
In the afternoon members Of the veterans
peace commission visited Secretary TAFT and
carried from him request that General Memo /
cal remain in Havana until some settlement had 7
been reached.
a committee representing the Americans living /
In the Isle OF Pines reported that Mayor San /
chez. who is I'm charge of the Isle Of Pines had :
resigned and that the island was without local /
government. They asked Secretary Taft 10 de- |!
mand the appointment Of some officer 20 take /
charge there and the Secretary promised TO con- I
slider the matter. According 20 the members Of I
the committee half dozen Americans had re- +
quested the Mayor TO return the guns recently ?
taken from Americans in the Isle OF Pines but Z
he had declined 10 90 so. IL was their be- /
lief, they said that the Mayor feared the pos /
sibity of American attack on the city hall /
at NUeva Corona
American planters at Bahia Honda have re- /
quested of Minister Morgan that a warship be i
sent there, and the Minister intimated thar this /
would be done next week
Mr.. Taft received long cable dispatch direct /
from Oyster Bay to-day. II Is understood that .
he was therein instructed To EXHAUST every re- /
source in settling the difficulty without inter
vention. if possible This was In response 10 the
Secretarys messages yesterday.
Senator ZCyas said to-day:
Concerning the question OF my authority fully
70 represent Liberal sentiment. I already have 4
fuH powers from the rebels in Pinar del Rio and [
havana provinces. With the arrival here OF
Orestes Ferrara and MaChado and the commits
stOners from General CfuZman OF Santa Clara
province. coupled with the unqUestiOnrd support
shall have ample authority to represent the Lib
eTal party. and Will be able 10 dtspeI Secretary
Tafts just doubts on this point
I am confident that the basis recently pre-
sented, supported by the above powers. will
solve the problem promptly.
Newark arrived here this morning
Captain Albert r. Couden. commander Of the
batt.eship Louisiana and senior naval officer
here. said to-day that while the American war
ships now in the harbor could land 1000 men he
did not believe that more than =. 4OO men wouIi
be necessary in case a landing had 70 be made
The force here Includes special brigade ~
1.E0 marines. Landing drills were held on all
the ships to-day. All the forces have full camp 7
equipments. ammunition and supplies for two
days The commanders Of the warsLips sav
that the landing Of the entire force could be ac-
CompIished I'm fifteen minutes In case OF neces-
sity the battleships would remain at anchor
while the cruisers moved nearer shore 10 DrOra,- :