The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-02-03
He Agrees TO the DISARMAMENT Of
the Cuban Army.
WILL ACCEPT THREE MILLIONS.
This Money WIN he Distributed I'm
Each Province by American and Gu
ban Omcers-General Gomez to Join
General Brooke in Havana.

Z
assuring him Of his cooperation In dis
banding the Cuban army and in distrib-
uting among the Cuban soldiers the
100000 appropriated for the purpose
OF enabling them to return to their
homes. General Gomez also telegraph
ed to Major General Brooke, saying he
would accept the latter's invitation 10
go to Havana. The success OF Mr.
Porter's mission greatly simplfies the
returning Of the military Cubaus to
the pursuits OF peace
In view OF General Gomez's supposed
prior attitude Of hostility towards the
United States Mr.. Porter came here
clothed with absolute authority, and
the tender OF the S3,O00.0OO was practi-
cally a verbal ultimatum. Had II not
been accepted no more ultimatums
would have been made. Mr. Porter
made plain the purposes Of the govern
ment and was gratiied at the ready
response OF General Gomez. The con-
ference took place at the house here
occupied by the Cuban general as his
headquarters since coming to town.
When Mr.. Porter arrived here last
week he was accompanied by Senior
Gonzales Quesada, commissioner OF the
Cuban 1unta at Washington: Captain
Campbell, of General Brooke's stan,
Lieutenant Hanna, Of General Woods
staff, and a press correspondent. Gen
eral Gomez was seen by Senior Quesada
yesterday afternoon, and after an
hours conference Mr.. Porter, accom-
panied by Senior Quesada. Captain
Campbell and Lieutenant Hanna, was
received by General Gomez in his par
lor and in the presence Of his stan.
The Cuban commander was cordial
in greeting Mr.. Porter and opened the
interview by referring to the change
for the better which had taken place
in Cuba since he was last here in Sep
tember. He also laid stress on the
fact that some people were asking
where was Cuba's promised liberty.
THE answer to this" said Mr.. Por-
ter, rs that Cuba now has commercial
and industrial liberty and that Presi-
dent Mckinley has directed me, in
framing the Cuban tariff. to make no
Determinations in favor Of the United
States. in the manner that Spain favor
ed herself. Cuba is free today to buy
in the cheapest market People are re-
turning to the pursuits Of peace, and
our military government Will give way
to civil government as fast as possible"
Mr.. Porter also said that the pur-
pose OF the American government is
to lay a firm foundation of noble gov
ernment for Cuba, to give the Cubans
all the liberties they had fought for,
and that General Gomez must remem-
ber that and more still For instance
there are $4,000 or 10000 Spanish SOL
diers at Cienfuegos who have not left
Cuba, that we have only been a month
on the island, and that President Nc
Kinley needed and was entitled to the
cooperation of all interested in the
welfare and future of Cuba, and that
he needed the cooperation of General
Gomez above all others.
The first problem, Mr.. Porter then
pointed out, was the disbandment of
the Cuban army and the return Of the
Cuban soldiers to work. This was the
specific mission which had brought Mr..
Porter to Remedies, and in which
President Mckinley expected General
Goniez's aid.
The Cuban commemorative chief re-
piled that he was ready and willing to
give the aid required, but asked how
he could do so.
To this Mr.. Porter replied that Presi-
dent Mckinley would be glad to have
him go to Havana and cooperate with
General Brooke in dlsbanding the Ou-
bans and in paying over the 81, 900, 600
| appropriated for that purpose.
General Gomez said the amount was
too small. but that 1t was not his fault,
and he would make 1t go as far as pos
sible, while likening II to the miracle
OF the loaves and fishes.
mo man in history" said Mr.. Por-
A.. ~
resources as you have done. Hence
your cooperation with General Brooke
will bring good results"
General Gomez specially requested
that the money, for which Mr.. Porter
had orders in his pocket, should be
paid over to General Brooke, and not
to himself, as he did not want the per-
soual responsibility Of keeping it.
The formal compact agreed to pro-
vides that the Cuban officers in each
province shall assist the American Of
ficers in distributing the funds The
sum paid 70 each man shall not be re-
| garded as part payment Of salary or
| wages due for service rendered, but
| to facilitate the disbandment of the
army and as an aid in getting the peo-
| pie to work. The Cubans shall SUR
| ICuuEI lllGlI arms " the 1uudu AS
| sembly or to its representatives,
| Immediately after the conference
! with Mr.. Porter General Gomez wrote
| the following letter to President Nc
! Kinley in Spanish;
1T has been great pleasure to me
10 confer with your commissioner, Mr..
Porter, introduced by my friend Que
sada, and l am now aware of and
pleased with your wishes. In a short
time I shall go to Havana and confer
with General Brooke, so that every
thing will go well. Following your ad.
vice, willingly cooperate in the work
Of reconstrueting Cuba"
The money TO be paid the Cubans
win be sent on Commissioner Porter
order to General Brooke. The amount
win be In Spanish silver.
At the ratio OF 60 1t win amount tc
S4.2OO,O0O. or nearly 800 for each mar
in the Cuban army as estimated by tn,
delegation from the Cuban military as
sembly which went to Washington II
December and has recently returned t
Cuba,