The sun., 1897-04-18
TALKING WITH CISNEROS.
I SUN CoRRESPONDENT MEETS
THE CUBAN PRESLDENT.

Spanish Force was Near-Ho Thinhs That
Spain IL Getting Ready to Abandon the
Isiana-His Views Spanish "Reforns.r "
PUERTO PRINCIPE, Cuba, April 1.-Ihave just
como from San Jeronmo fifteen miles to the
southeast Of this city, whero l met the Cuban
Government presided over by Salvador Cisneros
Betancourt, whom, about two months ago. the
Spanish in Havana reported rs dead.
Every Cuban calls him tho Marquis" for ho
inherited tho Castilian title Of Marquis of Santa
Lucia from his granduncle. He resigned tho
title when he took an active part in the revolu-
tion Of 1s6S Tho President is In good health
and was very much amused over the Spanish
report of his death which he read In La Lucha
and Diario de la Marina.
with him were Secretaries Santiago Garcia
Cahixares, Of the Interior, Severe Pima. OF
Finances. Rafael Portuondo Tanayo. OF Foreign
Affairs, now in charge also ad interim OF the
portfolio Of War, and some other officials OF the
Government. among them Pedro Mendoza
Guerra, Civil Governor OF the state OF Ca
msguoy, which is the Cuban name for what the
Spaniards call the province Of Puerto Principe.
Gen. Carlos Roloff Secretary Of War, was ex-
pcqtod, as nows had been received that he was
on his way from Orontc after having delivered
there the valuable supplies he had brought from
tho United States to Gen. Calixto Garcia.
When arrived there under escort Of a Cuban
band OF several hundred men, which met me on
the way from Puerto Principe, President Cis-
neros was coming out of his tent with Secretary
Portuondo. The other members OF tho Cabinet
wero in another tont, talking over some resolu-
dons that had just been adopted in council
In this second tent the archives OF the Govern.
ment wero kept. 1t was largo enough to contain
tour big tables, on which the sub-secretaries and
some assistants were writing orders and com
munications. IL was very simple and primi-
tive scene. The furniture was such as could DO
,xnln naut1- frs,Yt tNtNln fha
& ont and his Cabinet journey through the east
nnt. centre OF the island. But every one was
tranquil and not Mt all disturbed by the fact that
not ar away Spanish column $500 men
strong under Gen. Jimenez Castellanos was
The whole military guard Of the Cuban Gov
ernmt mt Mt Si n JeIonino was not more than 100
soldiers, scattered here and there In small de-
tachments of twenty men each; and yet Presi-
dent Mckinley and Mr.. Sherman. at the White
House; could not show more perfect G9uanimity
and the other members of the Cabinet of the
small republic.
the first who came to meet me as soon as my ar
rival was known. There is no more danger
nor for hG tho as s
troops were sent by the President from here to
join other forces of the army. Gen. JimeneZ
Castelnnos is watched carefully by them and at
the first attempt he should make against us
him"
Gov. Mendoza introduced me to President
SlbnCIOS. nero Is, IN part, Wnht the frcSluGnt
said TO me in the course of our conversations:
The end of thcwar through the final triumph
On OF S1oa is very near ear Lhe spThards are begin
of their troops in the seaI ors and the thousands
of solaiers VINO are returning to spain mean moth
Ing else. They cannot say that they are wi thGraw-
ing their troops because the revolution is nearly
crushed, and II they do say this the lie is cvi-
dent. Tho revolution is stronger now than ever.
The Cuban army never was so well armed and
never before so enthusiastic. The three expedi-
tions recently landed have given powerful help
" en-
formidable, and in Santa Clara the Cuban SOL
dlers have more ammunition now than last year.
rs il conceivable that under such circum-
stances the Spuniards would deem it advisable
to withdraw their troops II IL were no. that they
year sent reinforce tmenls to her army. max
Ing, total of 10000 regular soldiers. we
was not well drilled as now The Spanish
Government cannot deceive any one with tho
longer in the Held JUS, When The cubans have s Z
larger army than ever and are better provided
with munitions of war.
Orient Tho bombardment OF Jiyuani by Gen.
Garcia will not bo the only one. With the am
munition and cannons brought to him by Gen.
rior towns"
President Cisneros spoke also OF the Spanish
reforms. These alleged reforms, he said, are
nonsense, and 1t is even more nonsenscal to sup
pose that we % care for any change Of Government
or Schor Cast ear are the same thing. They are
al span sspehniards. that is to say. oppressors
oe Their ~aSy' ReSns as
Conservatives, Liberals. and Republicans. Senor
Castelar,. with all his feignod democracy, is no
more respected by me than Don Carlos, with his
dreams OF an sutoeratic Government. Both are
Toes oil Cuban freedom. fight them both"
The Pres sidcnt spoke also with praise of the
Cuban Junta at New York and denied all the
Spanish reports of divisions and quarels be-
tween the Government and the Junta.
asked II hin about the possibility of his
to be re-elected," no said Though the
sPaniards paint me as III and an
giZed those whose names are mentioned as his
possible successors among them Senior Masso,
tae Vice President, and Senior Tomds Estrada
Palma, the Cuban Delegate In the United States.
Among the many prominent Cubans in the
camp heard the report that there is strong
current OF opinion in the army in favor OF tho
election as President of Tomas Estrada Palma
The last news that the Cuban Government re-
eeiyed from Gen; Gomez WAS to tho effect that
plans that Gen. Weyler was trying to carry out
against him. With regard to the President Of
th- United States, President Cisneros said:
have written to President Mckinley about
the situation in Cuba. hope that he will in
land seemed TO have done. I would be very
much gratihed ii the American Government
would send n commissioner 10 Cuba to study the
facts nnd make all accurate report. But such
commissioner should come here and sec u.s. 1t is
OF no uso tor an American to go to Havana and
geek information, in the office Of the Spanish
Captain n-Genernl."
Then he wrote in my note book the following
words in English:
The United States cannot have the surety of
peace until peace is permanently established in
tho Island OF Cuba.