The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-03
GENERAL GOMEZ POSITION.
Thinks He Has Acted Honestly and
Wants to Go Home.

Thinks He Has Acted Honestly and
Wants to Go Home.
Havana, April General Maxine
Gomez, in a long letter directed to his
wife in Santo Domingo, reviews his diff
ferences with the so-called military as
sembly. He begins by describing the
situation as it was when Robert 2. Por-
ter, as the special representative of
President Mckinley, visited Cuba after
the assembly'S representatives at
Washington had obtained a promise of
100000 from the president. The writer,
proceeding, says:
This action on the part of the as
semblys committee l approved. 1t was
then that Mr. Porter appeared and
asked me as commander-in-c chief to de-
eide to accept the s3,O00,O00 and to aid
in its distribution and in the disarming
of the army and to proceed forthwith
to Havana to assist the United States
military governor, General Brooke. l
agreed and on arriving at Havana I
conferred with General Brooke concern
ing the payment and the disarmament
1t was decided that General Brooke
should request Washington to ship to
Cuba the 100000 which had been OBJ
tanned by the representatives of the as
sembly I saw to the adjustment of all
the questions that led up to the termina-
ton of the ridiculous armed situation
ana began TO entertain hopes an
early return to Santo Domingo.
1.-The assembly then called upon me
to visit its president, saying that the
| object sought was an unofficial ex-
change of ideas. But they placed me
upon the bench of the accused my
crime being that I was inclined to ac-
cept the 100000 which the assembly
itself, through it's representatives, had
induced President Mckinley to promise,
mo fn t1I 7
consulted. 1t appeared that I had
broken off negotiations for $13O0O,00O.
To all this I replied that had acted in
the best faith, but that nothing had
been lost as l would withdraw the ac-
ceptance I had given. They then re-
quested me TO array myself on their
side, in order to give strength to their
resolutions. I answered that l had al
ways done so, and would continue to do
so except in cases where the course of
the assembly was opposed to my con-
science, to my sense of justice and to
my idea of the best interests of Cuba.
Regarding the matters under consid-
GRAFTON 1 said l had no hope of obtain
ing more than the $3,0O00O0 from the
United States and disapproved asking
charity, contending that the only meth
cd left was to raise a loan, for which
the assembly lacked adequate authority
Furthermore, ] pointed out that the sol
diers could not wait: that already they
were too great burden upon the people
of Cuba, and that to longer delay APP
peared to me to be cruel
The conference ended without ac-
| completing anything. | saw I could
not make myself understood by the as
sembly and decided not to be mixed up
| in it's doings. but to await developments.
A few days later three men whom did
not know visited me and said that sew
eral millionaires stood ready to facil-
| tate loan of several millions, but that
the matter was possible only with my
| cooperation. T. answered that l could
| not consider any proposition. of the kind
and regarded it as strange that any
one would be ready to lend money with
| out a guarantee. My visitors replied
| that the city council could arrange a
| guarantee. Then a committee of the
assembly approached me asking me to
| support the assembly's efforts to obtain
| a loan. To this I replied that Cuba
| could not make a loan, as she lacked
| the necessary authority. The next day
| the assembly deposed me.
| II consider l have acted honorab bly,
| and my strongest desire is now to re-
| turn home"