President's Message

New York, Dec. 7. - A dispatch to The Tribune f rom Havana says: President McKinley's message is received quietly. Satisfaction is feit in official circles over the statement that the reeognition of either belligerency or independence is not justiflable under present conditions. The credit which the president gives for conducting the war on humane principies and for improving the condition of the reconcentrados will strengthen Captain General Blanco in carrying out this policy. The offlcial feeling may be summarized in the statement that the government does not now fear the embarrassment which might come from action by the United States before lnstructions from Madrid could be carried into effect. The hint of ultímate intervention causes some uneasiness and discussion has already arisen over what is meant by "reasonable time," but palace officials do not interpret it as likely to prevent the application of autonomy within the time needed for carrying out the details of the system as directed from Madrid. Autonomists, reformists, and conservatives who supoprt Sagasta and Blanco will make the message the basis of a movement for the early union of all parties to uphold the hands of the government in its colonial policy. Commercial interests are pleased with the pacific tone of the message, though not taking it as a conclusive settlement. The ultra-Spanlsh party is dissatisfled. It resents the implied purpose of the "United States to intervene at a future time if peace is not re-established under autonomy as an unjustifiable interference with Spain's sovereignty. It also resents the reference to filibusterIng. The general comment is that the message leaves the auestion of the lations of the United States to Spain and Cuba about where it was before. Whatever the ultímate effect may be the immedirt? i-esult is to strengthen the purpose f Captain General Blanco to carry out the civil provisions of autonomy whilp pressing a vigorous military campaign against the insurgents who refuse to accept the new regime.