22 SEPTEMBER 1906, Page 1

willingness to treat appeared in both camps, in spite of

the fact that President Palma secured from his Congress large extra-Constitutional powers to carry on the struggle. Presi- dent Roosevelt announced that while America would not favour one side or the other, the rising must come to an end at once, since the lives and property of Americans and the whole prosperity of the island were being endangered, or America would be compelled, greatly against her will, to intervene. A number of warships were despatched to Cuban waters, and on Wednesday Mr. Taft and Mr. Bacon landed at Havana to assist in the peace negotiations. The insurgents demand a fresh Election, which President Palma is for the moment unwilling to accept; but it is hard to see how he will be able to resist the pressure of the American Government, and he has clearly lost his earlier self-confidence. Public opinion in America has applauded the President's treatment of a difficult question, for there is no desire in either party to interfere in Cuban affairs beyond what is absolutely neces- sary. We have dealt with the whole question elsewhere.