Mr. Woodford to Mr. Sherman.
Madrid, March 21, 1898.
Sir: I have the honor to report that on March 18 instant I received an official note from the Spanish minister of foreign affairs, dated March 17 instant, informing me that the decrees of 25th November last transferred [Page 694] to the insular government the powers until now exercised by the government of the metropolis, and in its name by the governor-general of the island of Cuba, in the matter to which such official note related; that the governor-general had just communicated by telegram of March 17 instant to the minister of colonies that the insular council of ministers, under his presidency, had decided to prorogue in all its parts, until March 31, 1899, the decree of the governor-general of April 19, 1897, relative to the suspension of actions against landed property; that such action was subject to what the insular chambers may decide, before whom the executive power of said government is responsible in virtue of the autonomous constitution now in force in the island of Cuba.
I inclose copy of such note from the Spanish minister and call attention to the gradual but steady attempt to enlarge the effective operation of the new system of autonomy. Each day I become more doubtful as to whether autonomy can be made effectively successful within any reasonable time, but each day it becomes more and more apparent, here in Madrid, that the present Government of Spain is disposed to enlarge autonomy rather than restrict it. This is the inevitable logic of the situation.
On March 18 instant I telegraphed you in cipher as follows:
Madrid, March 18, 1898.
Secretary Sherman, Washington.
Spanish minister for foreign affairs informs me that Cuban insular government has extended decree suspending actions against landed property to March 31. 1899.
Woodford.
I also inclose copy of my translation of Spanish note, and am, very respectfully, yours,