The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-27
GEN. BUTLER TALKS OF CUBA.
SUMMONED TO WASHINGTON TO
CONFER WITH M'KINLEY.

He Makes an Extensive Report of
Negotiations for the Evacuation
He Doesn't Think There VIII BE
Any Friction in the Military Oc-
cupatiOn of Cubn-The Mnnigo Or
ganizatiOn a source of Terror
Many Cubans In Wretched Desti-
tuition.
Washington, Nov. 26.-Gen. NJ. c. But
Ter of South Carolina, member of the
Cuban evacuation commission, arrived
here to-day direct from Havana in res
ponse to a telegraphlc summons from Pres
ident Mckinley, and this afternoon he had
two-hours' consultation with the Presi-
dent at the White House
He made an extended report of negotia-
tions for the evacuation and of the terms
complete it by Jan, 1.
Gen. Butler gave il as his opinion that
all the Spaniards have met the American
commissioners with reasonable fairness
and that there has been but little friction.
Some of the claims they have made for
been ridiculous and they will, of course.
be abandoned in the end Gen. Butler de-
MES all the reports of dissensions among
the members of the American commission.
In addition to this report on the actual
work of the joint commission, Gen. Butler
gave the President much valuable inform
alton as to the general situation in Cuba,
as to the Cubans for self-government, the
sanitary condition of Havana, and gen
orally the results of his observations dur
ing his stay there.
Gen. Butler is of the opinion that the
military government of the island must
be continued for some time. but that it
should be only as rigorous as may be nec-
essary TO preserve order. He thinks the
Cubans are ambitious for self-goveTnment
and anxious to avoid friction with the
American authorities. If military control
there viii be little trouble.
One of the most troublesome features of
the situation is the criminal class and the
difficulty of determining in the case of
prisoners, who are incarcerated for politi-
cal offenses or for crime. There has ex-
listed in Havana in the past an oath-bound
organization on the order of the Italian
malta, known as the Mango, which was
a source of terror to the inhabitants. One
of the few commendable acts of Weyler
was the deportation of about 700 of the
members of this organization to the penal
Of pt,t a
that these criminals may return, or that
the order may be revived by some of those
who were not deported.
One of the features of the situation. in
which the authorities here are especially
interested just now is the sanitary condi-
lion of Havana. The shipment of troops
which has already begun, and the exist
ence of yellow fever in Havana all the
year round makes it absolutely necessary
that the city should be placed in thorough
sanitary condition. Gen. Butler describes
the city now as pest hole, flied with un-
mentonable filth, squalor and destitution
ever agreed to inaugurate the
work of putting the city
in sanitary condition with the aid of The
American authorities, and work to this
end is to begin at once, Gen. Butter palms
a dark picture of the desitution among
the poorer classes, and says 1t will prob
ably be necessary for us to furnish some
aid to the starving wretches.
Gen. Butler paid a high tribute TO the
discipline and uncomplaiuing suffering of
the Spanish troops. They endured hard
ships, he says, which would have caused
American soldiers to revolt. As an illus
trauon of the admirable discipline of the
Spanish soldiery, he said that at one time
there were 1900 Spanish soldiers in Ha-
vana; yet he never saw or heard of an
act of violence, nor did he hear or see a
single Spanish soldier intoxicated
Gen. Butler will remain here several days
and probably have another interview with
the President. He will then go to his home
in South Carolina, whence his return in
about ten days to Havana. His wife and
daughter viii accompany him on his re-
turn This fact leads to the belief that
he may be destined for military service
in Cuba as his present mission expires with
the completion of the evacuation.