Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-05-14
ATTITUDE OF CUBA.
Statement Of General Gomez 10 the
American People.
no PEACE WITHOUT FREEDOM.
The Insurgsni Leader BO's Not Be.
live In Annexation 10 the
United states.

pondent Of the New York Journal has
iust returned from "a visit to General
Gomez and the other Cuban leaders
in Cuba snd is the bearer OF the fol-
lowing important statement by Gen.
Go mez to the American people:
"Your Correspondent now In camp
has requested OF mo statement OF the
attitude OF the Cuban fepu blic ON Ger.
tain questions likely to assume more or
less Importance when our struggle for
liberty snail hive concluded.
"The question oil our acceptance OF
tho autonomous terms offered by
Spain has already been ably answ cred
by our distinguished representative In
the United States, Mr.. Estrada Palma
Neither the terma Of autonomy nor
the act OF Offering them 10 worthy OF
serious consideration OF the part OF
Cubans VINO have become familiar
with the treachery ana duplicity OF
Spain and the wOrthlessness OF her
promises. We do not believe we shall
ever call a special convention to con-
slider the framing of the peace treaty
with Spain. Only u concession OF ab-
solute indepenueuce will DO regarded
rs q sufficient basis for treaty negotia-
tions. pnd this the Spanish govern
mems Will not grant.
IL IL ditiiult TO discuss without EN-.
barrsssment the question OF cur atti.
tuue toward any proposition looking
to the annexation OF Cuba to the
United States In tho event OF our ult,-
mate victory, as there has developed
in the United States O strong anti.
annexation eeDiiment before the
Cubans have indicated 10 the sligh test
degree any desire for this closer rela.
tioYship. Among the men now
battling for Guba's freedom there is u
strong sentiment against annexation
to the United States, although our
feeling toward your country are OF tho
iriendiiest and most sympathetic char
acter. We are fighting for absolute
freedom not only from Spain but from
any government not OF our own max
ing. We will stand ready to form with
tue Unitel States any alliance calcu.
lated to ultimately strengthen our TWO
ctuntIies. commercially or otherwise.
but l do not believe there Ia Benti-
ment In either Country in favor OF an.
nexAtion strong enough TO warrant
tne hope OF the ultimate pnion Of our
two cuuntfies In the relation ship con.
Ism plated.
"Any proposition from Spain look
Ing 10 the granting OF our indepen-
dence upon the payment to the span.
ish government Of sum large enough
10 cover the expenses OF the war Will
be rejected by the Cuban republic.
We con wrest our Independence from
Spain with our SWORD without incum.
bering our new republic with an enor.
nous war debt.
SIN this communication / wish to
again call the attention OF the civilized
world to the warfare conducted by
General Weyler now in command OF
the Spanish forces In our island.
"rhe horrors of far.off Arm enis are
Rot az deserving of the attention OF the
American Congress as the bsrbarous
and ntrocious conuuct Of this general.
"GoMRz"
The above statement was handed to
the correspondent by General Com ~
nj his headquarters on the field.
The correspondent says;
81 reached here with comparative
sa6s after having LETT the Spanish
lines. During the i've days remained
In camp with General Gomez l found
him and mia men confident OF success
anu apparently able to continue tho
war In their fashion for several years
TO come. His inactivity has been
severely criticized by those unfamiliar
with the conditions under which he
finds IL necessary to fight. Should ne
enter upon an aggressive campaign,
attaching the Spa nish repeatedly, he
would sU0n exhaust the small amou Mt
OF Rmmu milton at his command and
would be- islt absolutely without other
defense than that afforded by n retreat
TO bearby foresis. AS indicated to me
in an Interview with him, ne Will mold
the plain OF La Reforms, hie present
heauquarters, until such time a. a
plentiful supply OF ammunition en-
ables him to renew the mag nj h cent
campaign inaugurated by Macso and
himself u year ana half Ego. At
present, however, he will remain
quiet, acting only upon tho de-
Jepsive until the supplies recently
landed by RoI0ff reach MIN. He will
then, acoordiI & to the Information
furnished me III camp begin counter
march upon Havana with all the
forces in the province of Santa Clara
ana 10 the eastw ara up to the gates OF
Havana. BY this means he will re-
lutte in O must startling manner the
statements OF Weyler that the three
provinces Of Havana, MaiaDzas and
Santa Clara havs peen pacitieu. This
may be the final struggle Of the war"
CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS.
WARRINGTON, May l4-Gonzales
i QuesauH, charge d'afiairus OF the Gu.
ban republic In this city and who, In
the absence OF Senior Palma fs acting
minister, has Just received several let.
ters by special messenger from Gen.
Gomez aud President Cisneros. Ono
OF them 10 as follows:
I'm camp at Snnti Spiritus.
"ln regard to cur military opera
iiona VIII ,tsli you THAT We are de-
ing perfectly. General Bhndora, as
you already know, crossed without
hrlng shot, the reinforced trocha.
he 10 going toward Pinar uel Rio anu
takes with him magnificent con.
ungent OF men anu arms. General
Weyler announced his trip to Santl
bpiri'us, tut miudsy he returned, anu
IL seems he IL uevoting his time to
making trips on the coast, fearful that
some expedition might land. The last
lew unya l have defeated several
columns In Santa Tsrese, De Maqua
and As!orma. with good Luocsss. A., The