San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-12-31
NO SURRENDER
More Definite Information
As To Cuba.
PRESIDENT Mckinley SENT NO
LETTERS TO THE C0MMAN-
DER OF THE INSURGENTS.
The Consul Simply Visited Gomez
Far A Dead Americans Effects
Relief Measures Through The
Rei-CrOsS SOciety-NO Au-
tonOmy In Sight As Yet,

New York, Dec. 31.-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 in
terest at the State department and
Spanish legation, says the Washing
ton correspondent of the Herald.
The refusal of Gen. Gomez to con-
slider SPANS autonomy plan caused
no surprise at the legation. Minis
ter De LONE has not at any time ex-
pected that Gen. Gomez would i'm
mediatetIy accept an offer Of autono-
my, though ne does not credit all the
statements that have been attribut-
ed to Gomez in some Of the dispatches
from Havana. He said that he had
believed for some time that it would
be for General BlancO to achieve sew
eral important military advantages
before there would be a general ac-
ceptance of autonomy by the insur-
gents in the field.
Officials of the State department
expected that Gen. Gomez would hold
out against the insurgents of any
terms from Spain short of complete
independence, and they are not sur
prised at his defiant statements.
They do not agree with him, however,
in his opinion that ne and his fol-
lowers will soon be able to achieve
the independence of Cuba without
the assistance of the United States.
The Red Cross society has been invit-
ed by the administration to aid in
the collection of money and supplies
for the relief of the sufferers in Gu
ba. The original plans of the adj
ministration called, for assistance
from the society IL, any way, but rec
Ognizing the influence of the organi-
Zation it was determined by the
president to ask Miss Clara Barton
to call at the State department and
discuss matters with Assistant Sec
was sent to Miss Barton in accord
ance with this decision and it is ex-
pected she will, early next week,
take up the relief matter.
The authorities here We're aStonish-
ed at the statement cabled from Hav-
ana that Consular Agent Madrigal,
of Santa Clara, carried n letter from
President Mckinley to the insurgent
commander, Gomez. 1t Is even re-
ported that when he appeared in Gen.
GOmez's camp his life was threaten
ed and only saved himself by repre-
senting that he bore communications
from the president of the United
States.
If he made any such representa-
tons 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
assertion that he sent any commun-
ication to Gen. Gomez by Consular
Madrigal is absolutely false. Secre-
tary Sherman is equally emphatic in
denying that he bore any cOmmunica-
ton from the State department.
Mr.. Madrigal was sent to the insur-
gent camp by Consul General Lee
to take to Havana the effects of an
American correspondent named Cros-
by, who was with the forces of Gen.
Gomez and was shot in an engage
ment some months ago. Gen. Lee
arranged with Gen. Blanco to per-
NIT Mr.. Madrigal to pass through the
Spanish lines to the insurgent camp
for the purpose of securing these
effects. Whatever else the agent
may have done has been without In
struction. Although Mr.. Madrigal
was appointed consular agent In Feb
ruary, the Spanish government mas
never granted him an exequateur.
His mission is looked upon as entirely
unofficial.
Assistant Secretary Day was receiy-
ed response from the Ward line in
New York stating that the steamers OF
the line will accept supplies for Gu
ban sufferers free Of cost. Residents
of Montana contributed $500 to the
relief of Cubans. The Secretary OF
state has directed the discussing Off
Ger of the State department, Frank
A. Branagan to take charge OF any
moneys and supplies and forward
them to Consul General Lee.