This Congress is to settle all the affairs of the island, with the
exception of the foreign policy, the question of relations with other
countries, which will be arranged by Spain.
The supreme authority will be vested in the Captain-General, who will
have to give his consent to all the acts of the Congress before they can
become laws.
The army and navy will be under his sole control and direction.
Congress will have the right, subject to certain restrictions imposed by
the home Government, to fix the tariff duties.
The mayor and all the city officials will be elected by the people, and
while the Spanish Government keeps to itself the right to the final
voice in all decisions, the prospect offered the Cubans seems fair home
rule.
Porto Rico, another Spanish possession in the West Indies, is to enjoy
the same privileges as Cuba.
The insurgents, however, will have none of this.
Both Gomez and Garcia have published proclamations, so severe in tone,
that there can be no doubt that the insurgent leaders are sincere in
their declaration that they will have nothing from Spain but
independence.
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