Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1898 — A TRUCE ORDERED [ARTICLE]

A TRUCE ORDERED

President McKinley Notified That Spain Grants an Armistice. i t Reports That Obnoxious Conditions Were Demanded Are Officially Denied. Capt.-Gen. Blanco Prompt in Putting the Order of the Queen Regent Into Effect. - 1 ■ _ » Insurgents, It Is Said, Will Be Urged by Their Advisers in Washington Not to Accept. The Spanlah Minister’s Notification ▲lso Contains Kxpressions of Sorrow at Maine Disaster. Washington, April 11. —The Spanish government, through its minister at Washington, Senor Polo y Bernabe, Sunday night delivered an important official document to the state department stating that the armistice which • the queen regent of Spain had commanded Gen. Blanco to proclaim was without conditions;' that-her majesty’s government had granted liberal institutions to the island of Cuba which the coming Cuban parliament would develop; recalling the condolence and sympathy expressed by the queen regent and her government, on the disaster of.the Maine and the horror this disaster had occasioned in Spanish hearts, and appealing to the courtesy and sense of justice of the United States government to enlighten public opinion upon the attitude of Spain. The note also repeats the offer of the Spanish government to submit the Maine question to experts designated by the maritime powers of the world. This document was the official notification of the Spanish government to the United States of granting an armistice and its essential terms. Minister Woodford’s dispatch Saturday night had briefly stated the fact that an armistice had been agreed upon, but It was not communioaited as coming from the Spanish government. Sunday’s communication cleared up misapprehension on the most vital point of Spain’s concession, namely, that the armistice was without conditions. First reports stated that an armistice had been granted under the following conditions: 1. The United States to immediately cease giving moral and material support to the insurgents. 2. The American squadron in the vicinity of Cuba to be withdrawn. 3. The American squadron near the Philippine islands to be withdrawn. The government has cabled to Capt. Gen. Blanco informing him of its decision and instructing him as to his future action. The note was received by the state department after the first cabinet meeting. and was one of the main subjects of consideration a>t the second cabinet meeting held Sunday night. Although the Spanish note was surrounded with the usual secrecy of official negotiations, the following summary of its contents was secured: Abstract of the Contents. •The Spanish minister in Washington, deeply impressed by the numerous errors which seem to have obtained credit in public opinion In America in regard to the Cuban question, considers It his duty to call again the attention of the secretary of state of the United States to the following points: "First. Her majesty, the queen regent of Spain, desirous of ending the troubles which are desolating Cuba, has commanded a cessation of hostilities. Gen. Blanco has been ordered to proclaim an armistice without conditions. He will determine later the duration and details of this armistice, so as to carry out the generous intentions of her majesty and the wishes of the friends of peace. "Second. Her majesty’s government has granted to the island of Cuba institutions as liberal as those enjoyed by Canada under the British flag. The Cuban chambers will meet on the fourth of next May. It will be their duty and privilege to put into practice and develop these institutions. In addition to this Cuba is represented in the parliament at Madrid. “Third. Public opinion in this country appears to Ignore the fact that the loss of the Maine was immediately followed by official and reiterated expressions of condolence from her majesty the queen, from her government, from her charge d'affaires in Washington, and from the authorities in Havana; ail of which tended to affirm the horror which this disaster had caused to arise in Spanish hearts, as also the sympathy felt for the United States government and navy and for the American nation. "The Spanish minister feels confident he can count upon the courtesy and sense of justice of the United States government to enlighten public opinion upon this subject. "Fourth. As to the cause of this lamentable disaster, it resolves Itself into a question of facts, which can only be settled by material proofs. The Spanish minister reiterates the assurance that his government is ready to submit the question to experts designated by the maritime powers, whose soncluslons are tn advance accepted. Diplomatic Negotiations Renewed. Senor Polo delivered the document in person to the state department and aside from the interest In the communication itself, had added interest as an evidence of a renewal of diplomatic negotiations, thia being his first call at the department in ten days. Later Senor Dußosc, first secretary of the legation, made a-nother call at the department on the same general subject. Beeldes delivering the note, the call permitted a personal exchange between the secretary of state and the Spanish officials of an agreeable character. 111 an co Acts Promptly. During Senor Polo’s call at the state department he notified the authorities that word had come from Havana that

Gen. Blanco had been prompt In executing the orders of the queen regent, and that the prociamtion of armistice had been duly promulgated. The first elfeet of this will be to bring about a complete cessation of all Spanish hostilities throughout the island. The Spanish troops will for the time being go into garrison. Their future disposition has not even been considered,'for muifh depends upoirtlr& duration of the armistice and the’course of tiie insurgents. If the insurgents continue their lighting, 'and make attacks upon the Spanish troops, the situation will become complicated, for it is hardly believed that the Spanish forces will lay down their arms for any length erf time if they continue to be under fire from the insurgents. Rejection Is* Irged. The attitude of the insurgent advisers at Washington is that of rejecting the armistice. Senor Quesada, of the junta, declared Sunday, that the armistice was simply a Spanish trick, designed to create the impression that the insurgents were unreasonable. From his standpoint, nothing shprt of independence will satisfy the Cubans. It remain# to be seen how far Gen. Gomez and the insurgents in the field entertain this view. If they also reject the armistice, Spain is not likely to continue it, and the resort to arms will continue as it has been doing since the last three years. There is little doubt, however, that strong influences will now be brought to bear to induce the insurgents to suspend hostilities so that terms for a complete settlement may be reached. One of the ambassadors at Washington pointed out • that the influence of the pope x4as reliefl upon to a cohsiderabie extent with the insurgents, as they are a part of a country which is thoroughly Catholic and loyal, to liome. While the influence of the great powers is not likely to be exerted in any special way against the insurgents, yet this influence will be brought to bear as far as possible from every moral standpoint. The influence of the United States government also will be a very material factor in case the present crisis between the United States and Spain is averted and the armistice is accepted in Washington as a tentative ground for the solution of the Cuban problem.