The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-29
But the Assembly Deemed 1T Inadc-
quate Because 1t WOuld Give
Only S6S to Each Soldier.
INDIANA TROOPS RETURNING
16OTH REGIMENT At SEA on THE
TRANSPORT THOMAS,
And the 16Ist to Leave Havana on the
Logan To-Day-BOth to he Land
ed at Savannah, Ga.

WASHINGTON. March 2S.-Senor Jose r.
Nillalon and a. Hevia, who were appointed
by the Cuban Assembly to present TO the
Washington authorities the resolutions of
that body, have arrived in this city. Their
mission in addition to the presentation of
the resolutions is 10 explain in detail the
situation with reference to the insurgent
army While the Assembly did not reject
the 5000. 600 which General Gomez arranged
with Mr.. Robert i. Porter TO receive and
pay off the Cuban troops, they believed ii
to be entirely inadequate to meet the situa-
tion. They desire at least s1Oc00,0O0 and
much more as can be obtained. They argue
that If the Cuban army is disbanded after
the distribution of but $3.OO00oO, which
would give to each enlisted man about $6S,
that the money so obtained would be barely
sufficient for them TO procure clothes and
return TO their homes. leaving them no
margin on which to enter upon the peaceful
pursuits of life. Without the means of sub
sistence Senor Nillalon says that disorder
would almost inevitably follow, and per-
haps brigandage.
The object both of the United States and
of the Assembly, says Mr.. Villalon. is to
secure tranquility in Cuba preparatory To
the setting up by the Cuban people of
independent government and he says that IL
is therefore as much to the interests of the
United States authorities as TO those who
Immediately represent the Cuban patriots
to see that the disbandcd soldiers are given
an opportunity TO return To civil pursuits
The Assembly represents not the Cuban peo-
pie, Mr.. Eillalon declares, but only those
who have been in arms struggling for their
independence. Had Cuba achieved her abso-
lutte independence he says the revolutionary
Assembly would have raised sufficient funds
TO pay off the army in full, and inasmuch
as the United States now assumes and ex-
ercises the functions OF trustee for the
Cuban people during the re-establishment
of order throughout the island preparatory
TO the establishment of a stable and inde-
pendent government, he, the representa-
tive of the Assembly, will urge that it is
the duty of the United States to furnish
ample funds, repayable subsequently out of
the Cuban revenues. They desire that the
Washington authorities shall fully under
stand the dangers which may follow if the
insurgents are disbanded and sent to their
homes without adequate means TO begin life
afresh. If the United States adheres to the
present understanding with General Gomez
and the army is disbanded upon the $3,OOO.-
600 basis and disorder follows, the Assembly
Senor Nillalon says that the Assembly
desires the most amicable relations with the
United States; that nothing could exceed
the gratitude of the Cubans for the aid the
United States has rendered, but they can
not too strongly emphasize the belief that
the problem of the future would be greatly
simplified If enough funds are distributed
among the Cuban soldiers now to insure
their being able to return to the peaceful
pursuits of life. The Assembly will. Senor
Villalon says, probably be dissolved as soon
as the army is disbanded, as it represents
only the Cubans in arms. He believes that
within year convention representing the
whole Cuban people will meet and frame
constitution and be ready for the assump-
ton of the duties of self-government
Senior Villalon and his colleague will prob
ably seek an audience with the President
himself, and if this is denied them they
Will see the secretary Of war. If the Presi-
dent receives these gentlemen it will be as
visiting citizens, not in their representative
capacity. No such recognition will be ac-
corded them. If they desire TO present
petition or request TO this government it
will have TO go through the ordinary chan
nels, and In this instance it will be through
the military arm of the government. Such
a petition when presented will be referred 20
General Brooke as military governor of Gu
ba and the one person authorized TO deal
with Cuban affairs. 1t is also probable that
these Cubans will be told that any answer
10 the request or petition will come from
General Brooke. The United States gov
ernment cannot, 1t is pointed out, recognize
any person as representing the people of
Cuba or claiming TO represent them through
the organization known as the Cuban AS
sembly To this it is intimated that they
would not particularly object. What they
desire is - lay their case before the gov
erning authority, and, having done that,
their duty is ended.