New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-25
GOMEZ WOULD BUY CUBA.
STILL WILLING TO PAY TWO HUNDRED
MILLIONS FOR TIE ISLAND.

VIEWS OF THE INSUFFICIENT COMMANDER NOT
CHANGED By EITHER THE CONCESSION
OF AUTONOMY OR ITS FAILURE
DEPREcATEs WAR BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES
AND SPAIN.
fry TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIprSE.i
Havana. March % via Key West. March "a
Word has been received by The Tribune corre-
spondent direct from General Gomez at his
camp near Sancti Spirius. in Santa clara
Province A week ago. when the messenger left
him. he was in excellent health. and was plan
ming an insurgent campaign which should follow
the expected recognition Of Cuban independence
by the United States. Apparently ne did not
think Spain would Immediately accept inter-
vention mediation by the Washington Ad-
ministration. and he believed the recognition OF
independence would follow the refusal such
Z action ne regarded natural sequence TO the
Maine incident and tho other incidents bearing
upon the position taken in the Presidents De-
cember Message. While preparing to take ad-
/ vantage Of whatever is done. Gomez does not
look for an early ending Of the Cuban war. His
idea is that Spain Will continue such fighting as
has been going on. and will not at once aban-
don the island His military plans based
/
insurgents that they must not expect immediate
independence a fact following the declaration.
WILLING To BUY INDEPENDENCE.
The insurgent commander seems TO think that
while Spain will not now accept the good offices
Of the United States. she might ultimately do so.
Then. he believes the best proposition is for the
purchase of the island by the Cubans under
guarantee by the United States.
That is best for all parties" his lam
guagc. I'VE could perhaps pay S200,000000 for
INDEPENDENCE II Spain will not take thar. she
will take nothing away from Cuba except her
war debt If she will accept indemnity before
ii is too late. can pay IT. The guarantees Of
the United States would he in the nature of
protectorate Annexation would not follow. We
know the American people 10 not want to
mex Cuba All they want is a commercial treaty
giving them trade advantages which are natur-
ally theirs.
II hope" continued General Gomez. there Will
be no war between tho United States and Spain.
1t would be costly The Spaniards are
lessly blind 10 their own weakness. Besides |
fear that if hostilities between the two
tries come. it will add to the burdens Of the
Cubans when Independence is secured The ISL
and is a desert and will remain so while SPANS
rule continues. Too much should not be laid
upon it when peace comes.
The Tribune correspondents informant says
that Gomez discussed the relations Of the United
States and Spain several times. and always IN
language showing his earnest desire that the
American people might he spared war. His anX-
iety was deep 1t is probable that Comes SON
timents on this matter will be communicated TO
President Mckinley. He is more concerned
over It than over anything else. He appears 70
think that in case Of war Cuba would be asked
Fth
resources Of the island would not be sufficient to
meet.
NOTHING SHORT OF FREEDOM
Gomez dismissed the suggestion Of modifying
autonomy so that II would be acceptable to the
Insurgents with single word. They will treat
with Spain on no basis except that Of outright
INDEPENDENCE This is absolute. He spoke with
bitterness Of some members Of the Autonomlst
Government who were engaged in trying to win
his followers by bribery. saying that the Cubans
would remember them. These efforts he de-
clared we're futile. as shown by the few
isolated instances in which money had induced
Insurgents to present themselves.
On the other hand Gomez said he was con-
stantlv receiving reinforc aments. and gave sew
eral specific oases He stated that in the eastern
mart Of the island the insurgents had received
five thousand recruits since Autonomy was pro-
posed. other evidences II their renewed strength
were given. Perhaps the best evidence Of this
Is that the insurgents occupy large portion OF
Santa Clara Province unmOested The Spanish
troopa max, no effort To penetrate the country
where the insurgents camps are located The
present method Of warfare, Gomez said, would
he kept up until Spain withdrew He still counts
on the climate a more potent means OF de-
strovng the Spanish armies than the weapons
of the INSURGENTS For the Spanish sodery he
uttered the most kindly sentiments, saying that
when peace came it his hope that they