The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-24
GOMEZ READY FOR PEACE.
nc Is Willing for the United States
to Arbttratc.
AN INDEMNITY TO Be PAID BY CUBA,
The InsurEent Leader Replies to
0nestiors Conccrning Plans for
the Enaing OF the war,

New York. February o.. The World will,
publish tomorrow. under the head Of 1.-THE
Most Important Document on the Cuban
War;" an autograph letter writtcn to that
paper by Salvador Cisnerps, president OF the
provisional government Of Cuba, aud coun-
tcr-signed by Maxine Gomez. general In
chief. The letter was approved by the So
mont and bears the seal Of the infant gov-
eminent. 1t is as follows;
AT the request of your correspondent We
have the greatest pleasure In answering the
following questions;
"'Do you believe that the war can be
ended on the basis OF Independence on the
payment OF an indemnity by Cuba to Spain.
with tho United statcs as arbitrator
ION the basis OF independence It will be
possible to enter into negotiations. These
should provide for the evacuation OF the
island by the Spanish and for the future
relations between Spain and the new Cuban
Republic.
cluded an indemnity to he paid Spain, prV-
yided tho amount is reasonable, This would
be honorable practicable and good FOR All.
"But II done. II should be done ns soo',
as possible. The Indemnity should proven,
the further loss OF blood ana OF money amu
II would save the economic resources OF the
people who have sworn to the complete
destruction OF the island before they VIII
submit anew to the rule OF Spain.
Each day that passes freshons hatred
and devastation. Soon the producing ca
pacity of the country will be destroyed.
Cuba can nay less as timo passoh, moi
only because each moment she earns less
but IL will be Increasingly difficult Tor her
TO fulfil the stipulation AID agreements she
~ now able to make.
"Tho indemnity to Spain should take the
form OF the Acknowledgement and sunran-
tee by Cuba OF a part OF tho debt already
contracted by Spain, for the payment OF I
sum in bonds or in money to spain.
1--WE DO no, dceiO II inadvisable for the
United States to intervene semi officially as
the friend OF both sides. providing always
that the Island OF Cuba shall not sacrifice
thereby her own sovereignty,
I'VE are yours In the greatest considera-
tlon.
'Salvator Cisnoros,
"Maximo Gomez.
Diagonal. snncti spiritus. January a.
1897"
This letter. which is forwarded by syl-
vostcr Scoyel the World correspondent.
now Imprisoned at Sanct Spiritus. was.
It Ia stated. obtained exactly one week he
fore he was captured while trying to reach
tho sea coast. He had forwarded copy
by n pacfco to be cabled to his paper.
This messenger was also caught by tho
Spanish and tho contents OF his dispatch
were cabled TO Senior de LONE. tho Srrn-
ish minister at Washington. Tho original
documents, including the letters IN the
original Spanish. were only received this
afternoon In his letter accompanying them
Sylvester SooyeI writes:
1.-THE Cubans can afford to pay n very
large amount. and am In position to
state that they VIII do so. Cuba Will nc
cept any peaceable means laid down by the
United States that will secure her indc-
pendenoe. Last year Dr. Gomez authorized
the statement that In his opinion the Cu-
bans would even 20 ns far MS TO allow tho
United states to administer the finances OF
the Island until such time as any loan SEE
cured from or in that country should BIO
repaid"