The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-09-25
PEACEFUL VICTORY FOR
 REBELS SEEMS CERTAIN
LONG CONFER ENCE WITH SEC- RETARIES TAPT AND
 BACON

Practically No Difference Remains Be-
 tween the Insurgents and the Ameri-
 can Peace missiOners---COnclusion
 of Peace May be Announced Tonight
 Conditions at Present Unknown
 Text of Armistice Drawn by Taft and
 Agreed to by Both Sides.
 Havana, Sept. 24.-Victory for the lib- erals, or revolutionary party, seems certain tonight atr the conclusion of long conference between a committee of the insurgents, of eight members, and the American peace commissioners. The insurgent committee announced that there was practically no difference remaining between them and Secre- taries Taft and Bacon, and that they would receive draft of the peace plans tomorrow. These probably would be agreed to at meeting to be held in the presidio, where the prisoner members of the committee are confined.
 Secretary Taft said he could give no details of what transpired at the con- ference, for the reason that it was not necessary to treat with the government leaders, and publication of the peace proposals might interfere with their prompt acceptance.
 Messrs. Taft and Bacon went to the palace tonight and informed President Palma of the outcome of the negotia- tions with the liberals. The absence of definite statement from the commits sioners makes it impossible to say whether or not the plans carry the res 1gnations of the present administration and the congressman elected last year. There is a strong impression that Pres ident Palma will remain and reorgan- ize the cabinet, but that new elections will be held for half the senators and representatives; in other words, those who were elected last year, and possi- bly also for provincial officers.
 Tn discussing the situation with the Associated Press Secretary Taft said that tomorrow he would go over with Alfredo Zayas, the leader of the liber- als, the variations that the liberals de- sire in the memorandum of the peace programme. If we reach conclu- sion," Secretary Taft said, we hope to announce it tomorrow night" Secre- tary Taft evinced great pleasure at the progress made, and it is evident that he regards the remainder of the nego- tiations as matter of working out the details of the peace agreement. This bears out the insistent rumor in circu- Jox ba had abandoned much of its opposition to receiving the liberal leaders, and it was apparent that the peace commis- sioners felt that, while there was no reason for the rebellion in Cuba, there was real foundation for liberal com plaint against the election methods of the administration party.
 Practically all the time of the confer ence was occupied by Secretary Taft's review of the situation. He warned the insurgent committee that the continued independence of Cuba depended upon their calmness, wisdom and discretion during the process of settlement.
 Tonight Senor zayas telegraphed to all the important commanders in the field that there were prospects that peace terms would be signed and that the terms would be satisfactory to them.
 The immediate cessation of hostilities means everything. This winters to- bacco crop and the seed beds must be planted within a fortnight in order to insure crop.
 Text of Armlstice
 The following is the text of Secre- tary Tafts armistice as agreed upon absolutely by the insurgents and on one condition by the government offi- cials:
 "A truce or suspension of arms hav- ing been decreed by the president of Cuba and proclaimed to the forces of the liberal party by their leaders, l, as intermediary for the purpose of arrang- ing a permanent peace, have the honor to request the opposing parties to spe- officially agree during the true to re- frain from all acts of hostility and to desist from all military operations of a hostile character, and all prepara- tory movements or manoeuvres which could not have been perormed during the continuance of hostilities or which would have been performed under the fire of the opposing party.
 "1. No movements of troops shall take place on either side withut a noti- fication to the opposing authorities, viz: the secretary of the interior of Cuba, Alfredo Zayar, representing the liberal party and the America peace commission.
 "2 This peace shall be effective throughout Cuba.
 ''S If either party violates any of the expressed conditions the opposing party shall not take hostile action until after a complaint notification 10 the peace commission.
 A. Hostilities shall not be resumed for at least twenty-four hours after notification to the peace commission.
 Tt is requested that acceptance of these conditions be made in writing to me.
 ''Very respectfully,
 (signed) "WILLTAM H. TAFT, Secretary of War of the United States. :"
 The condition which Acting secreta- " of State Montalvo made to signing the document was that he should noti- fy Secretary Taft instead of Senator Zayas (president of the liberal party) if the government desires to move troops.