Show tlT1 THE SPAK1SH REPLY t Points Out Autonomy For Cuba and H fers to 3ilibastering The reply to our note was received on the 2Srd day of October I is in the direction of a better understanding I appreciate the frir < ly t urpcses of this sovernnent 3t dmis that our country is deeply cfrtii by l the war I in Cuba and that it dsirt fur peace 1 are jit I declnres thit t1C present Spaaii government is cund by every t cotisidtraiu to a change of policy C that should tr fy th 1nitcd States and pacify t aba within 3 reasonable tiia To tt hi < i 1 Spair has decided t < put Iiiti t the political reforms I horetofTt1 iU citon hy the present premie wi l 1c iiilting fr any con btriti n ii which I J J in its j1dgment k t e r CBAX HOME RtTE i The military operations it is said i v roriiijuf but will bo humane and foiiui id < with all r > gTr < for private I riiiits being accompanud by political < 1 action leading to the autonomy of i Cuba while suarding against Spanish I sovereignty This it is claimed will result in investing Cuba with a distinct I personality the island to be governed j by an executive and by a local councilor I or chamber reserving to Spain the control of the foreign relations the army and navy and the judicial administratiOn j ministration t To accomplish this the present government gov-ernment proposes to modify existing I legislation by decree leaving the Spanish I Span-ish cortes with the aid of Cuban senators sen-ators and deputies to solve the economic econ-omic problem and properly distribute j the erlsting debts I FILIBCSTERING CHARGED I In the absence of a declaration of the measures that the government proposes tp take in carrying out its 1 proffer of good offices i suggests that j Spain be 1ft l free to conduct military operations and grant political reforms while the United States for its part shall enforce Its neutral obligations 1 and cut off the assistance which it is asserted the insurgents are receiving i from this country The supposition of an indefinite pro j longation of the war is denied I is asserted i that the western provinces are I already well nigh reclaimed that the j J planting of cane and tobacco therein i has been resumed and that by force i of arms and new and ample reforms j very early and complete pacification i Is hoped for The immediate amelior j atiun of existing conditions under the I new administration of Cuban affairs is I prelicted and therewithal the disturbance I dis-turbance and all occasion for any j change of attitude on the part of the United States UNJUST CHARGE Discussion of the question of international inter-national duties and responsibilities of the Unit States as Spain understands under-stands them is presented with an apparent ap-parent disposition to charge us with i failure in this regard The charge is j without any basis in fact I could not have been made if Spain had been i cognizant of the constant efforts this i government has made at the cost of i millions kind by the employment of the administrative machinery at the I national command to perform its full duly according to the law of nations nat0s That it h successfully prevented the I departure of a single military expedition expedi-tion or armed vessel from our shores j in violation of our laws would seem j I to be a sufficient answar i But on this aspect of the Spanish j note it is not necessary to speak f urI ur-I tier now Firm in the conviction of a J wholly performed obligation due response jl re-sponse to this charge has been made in diplomatic issues Throughout all these horrors and dangers to our own peace this government has never in any way abrogated its sovereign prerogative pre-rogative of reserving to itself the de termination or its policy and course I according to its own high sense of j hin andiii consonance with the dear i j est interests and convictions of our own people should the prolongation of j the strife so demand |