Mr. Woodford to Mr. Sherman.
Madrid, November 13, 1897.
Sir: In my dispatch to you, No. 61, dated November 8 instant, I acknowledged receipt of your telegraphic dispatch dated November 6. I have since then indirectly caused the Spanish Government to know that our Government would regard an immediate change in the treatment of the noncombatant Cubans as the most effective guarantee of the change in the policy of Spain that can just now be given.
Yesterday afternoon I called by appointment on Señor Moret, minister for the colonies, to discuss the Solomon tobacco case. The papers from Havana have not yet been received by him. But he is favorably disposed, and arranged further interview two days after the papers shall have been received.
I have to-day telegraphed you in cipher as follows:
Secretary Sherman, Washington:
Yesterday afternoon had an interview with minister for the colonies about Solomon tobacco case. Hope favorable action. I have availed myself of the opportunity for general conversation on Cuban affairs. Spanish Government have instructed General Blanco to conduct war in humane and Christian methods. Concentrado camps are to be broken up. Blanco will communicate substance of each bando to Spanish minister at Washington, who will keep you informed. Decrees granting autonomy will be signed by the Queen between November 23 and 25. Official synopsis of decrees will be furnished on the day after signature, and I will telegraph same to you. To facilitate my work here, please keep this dispatch secret until decrees are published. Full report by next mail.
Señor Moret speaks excellent English, and when our interview about the tobacco case was ended 1 availed myself of the opportunity to have a full talk with him.
I told him that my Government discerned in the Spanish answer of October 23 hopeful indication of change in the policy of Spain, although the scope and effect of the Spanish programme remained still to be seen; that an immediate change in the treatment of the non-combatant Cubans would be an effective guarantee; that this is not a change dependent upon legislation or decree, and that the President accepted with the utmost gratification the pledge of the Spanish Government to conduct the war henceforth in humane and Christian methods.
Señor Moret at once replied that no one could be more anxious than himself to have the war conducted in humane and Christian methods; that the Spanish Government had instructed Marshal Blanco most fully in this regard, and that he was certain that Marshal Blanco would fully and loyally carry out the purpose and instructions of his Government. He added that before he had come into power he had publicly expressed his views about the conduct of the war in a speech at Zara-goza, and that he should not be as secretary in the room in which we then were unless his hands were free to see that his views about the humane conduct of the war could be carried out.
I then suggested that we should talk with each other plainly and fully, without diplomatic compliments and each man saying to the other just what two private citizens would say when discussing matters too serious to be veiled or concealed by courteous expressions. He assented, saying that he should be glad to have just such conversation with me.
[Page 601]I then remarked that should the Spanish Government feel it their duty to continue to insist upon their present view (as stated in their answer of October 23) that the Cuban insurrection is practically maintained by the sympathy and aid received from the people and territory of the United States, I hoped that he and his Government would clearly understand that the President believed that the United States Government had done more than its full duty, and must and would insist upon this attitude to the end or completion of any diplomatic correspondence that may take place, and that if thoroughly cordial relations are to be established and maintained between our two Governments it must be upon the basis of humane methods in the conduct of the Cuban war, on the just protection of American interests in Cuba, and on the practical establishment of such reforms in the administration of Cuba as would justify the expectation of permanent and prosperous peace.
He replied in substance that the Spanish Government must insist upon what they felt to be a just enforcement by the United States of our duties of neutrality, but that we could rely upon humane methods of warfare and the early and effective establishment of such an autonomy in Cuba as would enable the Cubans to govern themselves as wisely as they could in matters relating to their internal affairs.
Señor Moret told me that he would see that Marshal Blanco was instructed to keep Minister de Lôme informed by telegraph of the substance of each bando that he should issue with regard to the methods of conducting the war, and that Minister de Lôme would keep you constantly informed as to the same.
I then asked the Spanish minister when the decrees granting autonomy would probably be signed by the Queen and published. He replied that they were long and minute in their details; that they were being considered carefully, and would be ready for the signature of the Queen between November 23 and 25; that they would be published in the Official Gazette on the day after signature, and would then be furnished to me for transmission to my Government.
Upon my telling him that I should be glad to have a summary for transmission to the President in time to aid him in the preparation of his annual message to Congress, he told me that he would have a summary prepared, which I could translate and telegraph to the President on the day after the decrees were signed.
I then said to Señor Moret that if the changes promised in the conduct of the war were carried out promptly and thoroughly, and if the autonomy when decreed should be such as would give the Cubans actual and honest self-government in local affairs, I would earnestly advise my Government to refrain from interference in Cuba for a reasonable time so that the effect of what Spain is now trying to do might be clearly seen. Of course I added that this was only my individual assurance, but that I knew that the President is sincerely anxious to maintain true friendship with Spain, while he must do his duty in protecting just American interests.
Señor Moret then asked me if I thought it would be possible to negotiate a commercial treaty between Spain and the United States which should open the ports of Cuba and the United States to practically free reciprocal commerce. I replied that the “first corner to be turned is to secure peace, so that there shall be commerce worth having, and that then I believed that my Government would gladly do all [Page 602] that we could to promote large and profitable commercial relations between Cuba and the United States; but that this is a matter to be hereafter considered.”
I have tried to give the substance of this most important conversation. It was so direct, so free from all diplomatic form and methods and so unreserved, that I venture to suggest that this letter be not placed upon the official files of your Department, until time and events shall demonstrate the result.
I have the honor, etc.,