The record-union., 1899-07-12

NEW YORK, July 1l.-According to
a correspondent of the World at
Washington, President Mckinley is
working energetically upon a plan to
submit the question of independence or
annexation to the people OF Cuba. He
believes that they would vote for an
nexation.
Reports from Governor General
Brooke indicate contrary view, but
the President has received confidential
letters from influential representatives
OF commercial interests and from other
sources in and about Havana which
nave convinced him that General
Brooke is mistaken and that the people
IN the western portion of the islands, as
we'll as those in the eastern portion.
would gladly vote for a Territorial
government under the greater Repub-
lic
These confidential reports reveal q
good deal more discord among the
American provincial rulers than is
usually believed to exist. The policy
applied to the government of the prov
lnces in the western end of the island
-Pinar del Rio, Havana and Matanzas
which are directly under the super
vision of General Brooke, is, for in
stance, radically different from that
inaugurated by General Leonard Wood,
military commander of Santiago.
The Government of Santiago is looked
upon by the President as more desir-
able than that in the western prov
inces. General Wood, while here re-
Gently, made a personal report to the
President, who indorsed his policy and
urged its continuance
General Wood, it is learned, made
many suggestions, which will be pub
lished for the guidance of the COM
manders of other Cuban provinces.
The President inquired particularly
as to the extent of the sentiment for
and against annexation.
II am firmly convinced said Gem
eral Wood, that annexation would be
carried by four to one in Santiago.
The people of that province, and, be-
lieve, the majority of the other prov
inces, do not want independence. They
have realized many benefits from rne
temporary government we have given
them, and are anxious to secure these
benefits permanently.
Il have encouraged American enter
cans the preference. 1 do not believe
there have reached you from Santi-
ago the complaints of discrimination
against Americans that come from
Havana.
Americans who have established
themselves in Santiago and endeavored
to extend their operations to other
provinces tell me that they have been
repulsed by the American commanders,
and that English enterprises have been
given the preference.
Complaints of the unwarranted con-
sideration shown European enterprises
in Havana and other western prov
inces, to the detriment of American in
terests, have reached the President
from many sources, and it is not i'm
probable that a change in the admin
istration of the Cuban Government will
soon be made.
1t is stated upon very high authority
that the President desires General
Brooke's attendance in Washington in
the capacity of confidential adviser,
and is contemplating the substitution
in his place of General Wood, Cow
ernor General of Cuba.
So strong is the Presidents tendency
toward annexation that it is expected
that an effort will be made in Con-
gress at the coming session to rescind
the resolution providing for Cuban
independence and to substitute plan
by which the matter may be submitted
to vote of the people of the island.