The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-03
And VIII Also visit Havana and CO.
Work of Reconstruction.
PROVISIONS OF THE COMPACT
GEN. BROOKE TO CONTROL DIsTRIBU-
TION OF THE MONEY,
Which Is Not to BE Regarded as Part
Payment for Services, but to FaciIi-
tate Disbandment of the Army.

REMEDIES, Cuba, Feb. 1, via Havana,
Feb Gen Maxine Gomez, the command
er-in-chief of the Cuban army, placed him
SELF squarely in position to-day as an active
ally Of the United States government in the
work Of the reconstruction of Cuba. AS a
result Of the conference which Robert p
Porter, the special commissioner of Presi-
dent Mckinley, has had with General
Gomez the latter cabled to President Nc
Kinley this afternoon assuring him of his
cooperation in disbanding the Cuban army
and in distributing among the Cuban SOL
diers the $3,O00O00 appropriated for the pur-
pose Of enabling them to return to their
homes. General Gomez also telegraphed to
Major General Brooke saying he would ac-
Cept the latters invitation to go to Havana
The success of Mr.. Porters mission great
ly simpltfies the returning of the military
Cubans 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 au-
thOrity and the tender Of the 100000 was
practically verbal ultimatum. Had it not
been accepted no more ultimatums would
have been made. Mr.. Porter made plain the
purpose Of the government and was graft
fed at the ready response of General
Gomez. The conference took place at the
house here occupied by the Cuban general
his headquarters since coming to town
In brief the compact is as follows:
First-The Cuban officers in each province
shall assist the American officers in dis
tributing the funds.
Second-That these officers shall at once
meet at some convenient point and devise
how. when and where the payments are to
be made and arrange any other details.
Third-That the sum paid to each man
shall not be regarded as part payment of
salary or wages due for service rendered,
but to facilitate the disbandment of the
army, as a relief of suffering and an aid in
getting the people to work.
Fourth-The Cubans shall surrender
their arms to the assembly or to its repre-
sentatives.
Fffth-The commission on distribution
shall use its best endeavors to distribute it
among the population so that all may secure
work
Sixth-That the $S,O0O,OOO shall be placed
subject to the order of General Brooke, and
that action in the matter shall be immediate
General Gomez was rendered a public re-
ception this evening and Mr.. Porter was
among those present.
DETAILS OF THE CONFERENCE.
When Mr.. Porter arrived here he was ac-
companied by Senior Gonzales Quesada, the
special commissioner of the Cuban Junto at
Washington, Captain Campbell, of General
Brooke's staff, Lieutenant Hanna, of Gen
eral Woods staff, and a correspondent of
the Associated Press. General Gomez had
gone to his camp this morning, but he re-
turned, accompanied by his staff and fifty
horsemen on various kinds of mounts. They
rode past the hotel where Mr.. Porter was
stopping, around the plaza and into side
street to the Cuban headquarters.
General Gomez was seen by Senior Que
sada this afternoon, and after an hours
conference Mr.. Porter, accompanied by
Seuor Quesada, Captain Campbell and
Lieutenant Hanna, was received by General
Gomez in his parlor, up one flight of stairs,
and I'm the presence of his staff The old
general wore no insignia of his rank. He
was dressed in linen coat and dark trous-
ers and had a silk handkerchief over his
Coat collar. He also wore a black tie and
showed a heavy silver watch and chain
with a silver cross attached to it. The
Cuban commander was cordial in greeting
Mr. Porter and opened the interview by re-
ferring to the change for the better which
had taken place in Cuba since he was last
the fact that some people were asking
where was Cuba's promised liberty.
The answer to this" said Mr.. Porter,
els that Cuba has now commercial and in
6ustrial liberty. and that President McKin-
ley has directed me in framing the Cuban
tariff to make no determinations in favor
OF the United States IN the manner that
Spain favored herself Cuba is free to-day
to buy ia the cheapest markets. People are
returning to the pursuits of peace, and our
military government will give way to the
civil government as fast as possible
Mr. Porter also said that the purpose of
the American government is to lay a firm
foundation Of a noble government for Cuba,
10 give the Cubans all the liberties they
had fought for, and that General Gomez
must remember that, and more still. For
instance. there are 5000 or $1,000 Spanish
soldiers at Cienfuegos who have net left
cuba; that we had only been month on
the island, and that President Mckinley
needed and was entitled to the cooperation
Of all interested in the welfare and future
Of Cuba, and that he needed the co-opera-
ton Of General Gomez above all Others The
first problem, Mr.. Porter then pointed out,
was the disbanding 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
Gomez's aid.
The Cuban commander-in-chlef replied
that he was ready and willing to give the
aid required, but asked how he could do SO.
TO this Mr.. Porter replied that President
Mckinley would be glad to have him 70 go
fo Havana and cooperate with General