Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-16
.H|Tz LEE AND "MAC,'
The General Has an Hours
Talk With the President
THEY DISCUSSED CUBAN MATTERS.
VlrgInIa's FaVurfs VIII Doubtless Head
the military Commission
AND LATER HE NAY BE- GOVERNOR
But Abeut All These Things BE Keeps
Very Mum.
THE FIRST STEPS TO BE TAKEN.
They Must Put the Governmental
Machinery in Operation There-The
spaniard. VIII Help Us-Bright
Future for the Island.
Future for the Island.

WASHINGTON. August l5.-Major-Gen- 4
eral Fitzhugh Lee. commander of the
Seventh Army Corps at Jacksonville. Fla.
was In conference to-day with the Presi-
dent and the War Department authorttiea
He came here on a special telegrapho
summons from Secretary Alger. and II was
in company with the latter that he con-
ferred for an hour with the President.
General Lees experience as Consul-Gene-
raj at Habana has given him an intimate
knowledge of Cuban conditions, which win
be utilized by the administration. IL 10
generally expected that he viii head tho
military commission, which will adjust
the affairs I'm Cuba, and he has also beer
strongly urged for the governorship OF
that island. after the functions OF the
commission. cease. on both OF these
points however General Lee asserts hs
kIows nothing lie would not speak oh
the subjects disW ssed as the result of nn
hasty trip here. beyond saying he had
been talking over matters In Cuba gene
! rally
| PUT THE MACHINERY IN OPERATION
| Inen ne added:
"The first work which will have to b<
| done I'm Cuba will be to make arranse-
ments by which all the municipal ma
chlnery can be put in operation In all tho
towns. and governmental machinery
throughout the island for each district.
There will have to be military control.
I suppose, until such time as the people
interested can organize and put into oper<
| alton a government which should be stas
| bic and strong enough TO impartially pros
| tect the interests OF Spaniards. Ameris
cans, Cubans. and the people of all othes
may hereafter go there"
sPANIARDs WILL HELP US.
| as there a probability OF Spanish inters
ests suffering through tho Cubans"
"The Spanish property holders. mer-
chants. and all other classes Of Spaniards.
naturally, would unite with all the rest
Of the conservative inhabitants for the
preservation OF the interests Of all tho
| citizens. and think they Will help tho
natives and the Americans 90 maintain
a strong. safe government. This would
be natural, because no class OF people
would be more interested than they ara
I'm maintaining property and all other
rights. The most difficult problem to
solve Is the first organization OF a pre-
Hminary form OF government, as later
tho island will be very rapidly Ameri>
canlzed and all such questions will take
care OF themselves
TO HAVE AN ELECTION.
As 20 the probabilities OF the Cubans
attaining a stable government / presume
that as soon as possible a proclamation
will be issued setting date for the hold
ing OF a general election for a chief ex-
ecutiye OF the Island, and for legisln-
tive body 20 which all matters affecting
the future of the island will be referred
This legislative body will probably adopt
a constitution and make the proper laws
10 nut into operation the political form
Of government
THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION.
AS TO the army OF occupation, which
will be necessary TO maintain our posi-
ton with respect to Cuba. i5 900 men will
be ample 10 garrison the whole Island.
OF this number possibly 5.0o0 would ba
stationed in and about Habana. Ma
tanzas would be the next most important
point for a garrison. Other points should
be regulated by the probabilities OF dis,
order that might take place there and tho
number OF troops at various points VIII
naturally be governed by circumstances"
A GREAT COMMERCIAL FUTURE
properly directed, Cuba viii have O
great commercial future. It's unbounded
and great resources will be very rapidly
developed by American push. ugor. and
capital"
General Lee says he has no plans be-
vond going back 10 Jacksonville 10 re-
sumo command OF the Seventh Arms
Corps. lie will leave for that point We'd
t-sU