Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-31
BLANCO MUST FIGHT.
Victory Over the Insurgents Necessary 10
Peace.
GOMEZ HAD NO MESSAGE FROM AMERICA.


New York, Dec. Sl.-The interview
with Gen. Maxine Gomez, in which the
chief of the Cuban Insurgents declares
that autonomy will never be accepted,
was read with great interest in the
state. department and Spanish lega-
tion' says the Washington correspon-
dent of the Herald. The refusal of
Gen. Gomez to consider SPANS auto
nomy plan caused no surprise at the
legation.
Minister dc LONE has not at my
time expected that Gen. Gomez would
Immediately accept an offer of auton-
omy, though he does not credit all
the statements that have been attrib-
uteu 10 Gomez. He said that he
had believed for some time that It
would be necessary for Gen. Blanco to
accomplish military advantages before
there would be a general acceptance Of
field
officials of the state department ex-
pected Gomez would hold against the
acceptance Of any terms from spain
short of complete independence, and
they are not surprised at his defiant
statements. They do not agree with
hun, however in his opinion that he
and his followers viii soon be able to
without the assistance of the United
States.
The Red Cross society has been in,
vited by the administration to aid In
the collection of money and supplies
for the relief of the sufferers in Cuba.
The original plans OF the admlnistra-
ton called for no assistance from the
society in any way, but recognizing
the charitable influence eXerted by the
organization 1t was determined by the
president, Miss Clara Barton. to call
at the state department and discuss
matters with Secretary Day Invita-
tons were sent to Miss Barton in con-
nection with this matter and It is ex-
pected she viii soon inform the de-
pnrtment Of the part she will take
in the relief measures
Officials here were astonished at the
statement oabled from Havana that
Senior Madrigal of Saucti Splritus car
ried letter from President Mckinley
to the insurgent commander Gomez.
II has even been reported that when
he appeared in Gen. Gomez's camp
his life was Threatened and he only
saved himself by representing that he
bore communications from the Presi- !
dent of the United states. If he made
any such representations, they were
false. There is good authority for the
statement that he carried absolutely
nothing from either the President or
Secretary Sherman. The President
himself says that the suggestion that |
he sent any communication to Gen. |
Gomez by consular agent Madrigal IL
absolutely false. Secretary Sherman |
is equally emphatic In denying that he |
bore any communication from the state |
department.
Mr.. Madrigal was sent TO the lnsur-
gent camp by Consul General Lee. to |
take to Havana the effects of an Amer
lean correspondent named Crosby. who |
was with the force of Gen. Gomez and
was shot in an engagement some
months ago
Gen. Lee arranged with Gen. Blanco
to permit Mr. MadriGal to pass through
the Spanish lines to the insurgent camp
for the purpose of securing these ef-
fects. Whatever else the agent may
have done. has been without instruc-
ton. Although Mr. Madrigal was ap-
pointed consular agent In February,
the Spanish government has never
rranted him an eXequRtur. His mission
IS looked upon as entirely unofficial.
Assistant Secretary Day has received
4 response from the Ward line in New
York. stating that the steamers Of that
line will accept supplies for Cuban
free of cost, Residents of
Montana contributed $500 to the relief
IF the Cubans.