Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-20
HAVANA AGAIN AGlTATED
Over Cuban Arms Being Taken by the Ameri-
can Military Authorities.

Havana, May 1a-Havana is again in Z
ferment over the idea that the Washing.
ton administration has determined to take
me arms OF the Cuban troops and to re-
tam them in military possession. This
view of the latest news from Washington
mas been telegraphed TO the various
cities.
Gov. Gen. Brooke is thus far unawares
only through the press kilograms of any
dissatisfaction on the part of Gen. Aiger
secretary of war, with his Gen. Brooke'sl
plan to have the arms deposited in tn.
care of the mayors of the municipalities
nor has he received any other inkling OF
the secretarys purpose to lay the matter
before President Mckinley Consequently
unless instructions to the contrary are
received from Washington, the governor
general order respecting the distribution
OF the S3,0OO,UO as modified will be issued,
tomorrow. The secretary of war has
been informed as to the substance of this
order, in the usual course of business
Havana midday papers publish the
midday news, some of them commenting
editorially upon it. AS the point about
where the arms are to be kept appears to
be thought of vital Importance i'm Wash
inSton, the conviction announced there
that the mayors cannot be trusted with
them is a cause of fresh discomfort Just
at the moment when the various compli-
cations appeared to be unrayelied The
ernor general, and when the Military As
sembly dissolved they were made its rep
resentatives TO receive the arms. Article
of the agreement between Gen. Gomez
and Mr.. Robert r. Porter. President Nc
kinleys special representative runs as
follows: The Cubans shall surrender
their arms to the Cuban Assembly or 10
its representa- tives.'
Gen. Gomez. who at the time of coming
to the agreement with Mr.. Porter. had
not quarrelled with the Assembly insist
ed upon this point. Since the quarrel he
has again raised the point, repeatedly
saying also that Mr.. Porter brought full
written authority from Pres. Mckinley
and in the Presidents name agreed thai
the arms should go into the custody of
the Assembly or its representatives.
AT Monday nights meeting of the Soci-
ETY. of the Veterans of Independence or
ganized by former members OF the AS
sembly, the speakers dilated upon Article
4, asserting bad faith. the Presidents
plenipotentiary having agreed TO deposit
the arms with the representatives of the
Assembly. while through the connivance
of Gomez they We're to be surrendered to
the American army.
La Discussion says: Secretary Alger an
pears to wish to provoke a conflict here
He is more distinguished in the United
states as a business man than politician
and his relations with certain syndicates
are well known. He opposes everything
that Cuba wants and favors everything
that would causes feeling and provoke
excitement. His attitude prompts the
question. what does he want? Does he
desire a war here similar to that in the
Philippines! We are forced to believe
that he only approves what is unsatisfac-
tory to Cuba"
Cubans of prominence object to talking
for publication on the subject. but wher-
ever they have been interviewed they say
Continued on page 81