The times., 1898-12-03

Gen Calixto Garcia and the members
of the Cuban Commission held the first
conference of the proposed series with
President Mckinley yesterday afternoon.
The members of the Commission were re-
ceived by the President at 2:30 o'clock,
and, after an informal meeting, the con-
ference began at o'clock, and lasted
more than an hour.
The President greeted Gen. Garcia with
much warmth and held the hand of the
old warrior for several minutes while de-
claring the pleasure he experienced at
the meeting Gen. Garcia was eagerly
questioned as to his brave struggle for
his country, his scars and his health, and
long before the conference opened the
Cubans were quite at ease and delighted
with the American President.
The Cuban Commissioners present at the
conference were Gen. Garcia, Gen. Gomez,
Col. Sanguilly, Jose Lanuza and Jose
Villalon. With the President were Maj.
Gen. Nelson A. Miles, Secretary Alger
and Secretary Porter. The Commissioners
were presented to the President by Senor
Gonzalo de Quesada, the Cuban charge
daffaires.
President Mckinley laid before the
Commissioners several suggestions as to
the temporary government of the island,
which form a part of his coming message
| to Congress. These included favorable
/ attitude to the proposition that portion
of the Cuban army be retained by this
| Government for garrison and police duty.
The other suggestions followed closely the
~ nd tA1 tl.r Tny1-
| gress which declare Cuba a free and in
| dependent republic.
The Cuban Commissioners were greatly
| pleased with the suggestions made by the
! President. and stated that they were just
| what the people of Cuba desired, and in
! line with the agreement of the late Cuban
assembly.
Conditions IN Cuba, present and future,
were then discussed, the President ques
tioning the members of the commission
and obtaining needed information. While
the deliberations of the commission dur
ing the conference are being kept secret,
ii was learned last night thtat the main
subject was the disbandment and disposi
ton of the army of Cuba
Gen Garcia made an impressive plea in
behalf of the men who had fought at his
side for two long years and depicted their
present condition. Many of them, he
rule of Spain: nearly all We're INDECENT
without means of any kind and Were hop
ing for a fresh start in life. All are at
present entirely dependent upon the Gov
ernment for food and shelter and the
veteran stated that 1t would be criminal
TO turn these men out to starve or 10
beg and steal food.
Gen. Gomez made a similar plea and
Gen. Garcia then made a proposition in
the name of the assembly of Cuba ihat
the American authorities upon taking for
NAL possession of the island by establish
ing temporary government, furnish the
Cuban troops with a sum sufficient to
pay them in part.
Gen. Garcia stated that even a small
portion of the pay due the troops wou d
enable them to enter civil life in an in
dependent condition, it would furnish
them with tools, clothing. and food. and
would be an incentive to order and peace.
The troops. stated Gen. Garcia are will
ing TO accept portion of their pay and
do all in their power to bring about the
establishment of a stable government
which would pay them everything due.
The sum advanced by the American Coz
ernment would be repaid with the for
NAL establishment of the government of
the Republic of Cuba.
The conference lasted an hour and a
| quarter.
Gen. Garcia expressed himself as being
greatly pleased with the result of the
conference last night, and was delighted
with President Mckinley. He expressed
his admiration for the American Chief
Magistrate in glowing terms, and stated
he was greatly impressed with the cor
dial reception accorded the Commission
Il have now no doubt as to the success
of our mission said he last night
while l cannot state the actions upon
, which / base my hopes, everything has
progressed so grandly thus far that / fee
assured all will be well.
Now, more than ever before, are VIC
assured of the noble attitude of the
United States toward Cuba, and, with
the aid of this powerful nation, We can
, not but progress rapidly"
Gen. Garcia dined with Maj. Gen. Miles
at the Raleigh last night and for two
hours the two veterans discussed the
recent Cuban campaign. They went over
each day of the Santiago siege and sur
render and il is whispered that certain
ludicrous truths We're aired and laughed
over.
Gen. Gomez, Col. Sanguilly, Jose Lanuza
and Jose Villalon, of the commission, were
, given a reception in Columbian University
Hall last by the members of the Nationa
Geographic Society. The reception was
well attended and the distinguished Gu
bans were the objects of much attention
No date has as yet been fixed for the
second conference with the President, bu
1t will probably be held on Monday.
Many visitors TO the members of tht
commission were at the Raleigh yester.
day. Senator Morgan spent an hour IL
conference with Gen. Garcia