The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-03
PORTER'S MISSION
WAS SUCCESSFUL
Arranged With Gomez For the Pay oil
CugaB Army.
WILL BE AT ONCE DlSBANDED
Sum Of $S,OOO,OOO To Be Appropriated
For That Purpose.
ACTION WILL BE IMMEDIATE
Porter's Proposition to the Insurgent
Comm ander-in-Chie Was in The
Mature of An Ultimatum-The
Compact Given in Brief

Remedies, Province of Santa Clara, Feb
ruary 1, via Havana, February 2-General
Maxine Gomez, the commander-in-c chief
of the Cuban army, placed himself squarely
in position today as an active ally of the
United States government in the work CT
the reconstruction of Cuba.
AS a result of the conference, which Rob-
ert p Porter, the special commissioner of
President Mckinley, has had with General
Gomez, the latter cabled t. President Nc
Kiney this afternoon assuring him of his
cooperation in disbanding the Cuban
army and in distributing among the Cuban
soldiers the 100000 appropriated for the
purpose of enabling them to return to their
homes.
Accepted Brooke's Invitation
General Gomez also telegraphed to Major
General Brooke, saying he would accept the
latters invitation to go to Havana.
The success of Mr.. Porter's mission great
ly simplifies the returning of the militant
Cubans to the pursuits of peace. In view
of General Gomez's supposed prior attitude
of hostility towards the United States, Mr.
1OIteF CdlHe mere ClOlIeu Will esb9OluNN eH7
thority and the tender of the So, 100000 was
practically verbal ultmatum. Had 1t not
been accepted no more ultimatums would
have been made Mr.. Porter made plain
the purpose of the government and was
gratifed at the ready response of General
Gomez The conference took place at the
house which occupied by the Cuban.
general as his headquarters ON coming to
town. In brief the compact is as fol-
lows:
1.-The Cuban officers In each province
shall assist the American officers III dis
tributing the funds.
2-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.
Net Paid Wages
S--That the sum paid 10 each man shall
not be regarded as part payment of salary
or wages due for service rendered, but to
facilitate the disarmament of the army as
relief of suffering and as an aid in getting
the people to work.
1.-THE Cubans must surrender their arms
to the Cuban assembly or 70 it's representa-
tives
5-The committee on distribution shall use
lis best endeavors to distribute it among
the population so that all may secure work.
6-That the 100000 shall be placed SUBJ
ject to the order of General Brooke and
that action in the matter shall be immedi-
ate.
General Gomez was rendered a public re-
ception this evening and Mr.. Porter was
among those present.
When Mr.. Porter arrived here last week
| he was accompanied by Senior Gonzales
| Quesada, the special commissioner of the
| Cuban junta at Washington; Captain Camp
bell, of General Brooke's staff; Lieutenant
| Hanna, of General Woods staff, and cor
respondent of the Associated Press.
Received BY Gomez
| General Gomez had gone to his camp this
morning, but he returned accompanied by
| his staff and fifty horsemen on various
| kinds of mounts. They rode past the Jtel
| where Mr. Porter was stopping, around the
plaza and into side street to the Cuban
| headquarters.
| General Gomez was seen by Senior Quesa-
da this afternoon, and after an hours con-
ference, Mr.. Porter, accompanied by Senior
| Quesada, Captain Campbell and Lieutenant
| Hanna, was received by Gomez in his par
| lor. The old general wore no insignia of his
| rank. He was dressed in linen coat and
over his coat collar. He also wore a black
| tic and showed a heavy silver watch and
| chain, with a silver cross attached to it.
| The Cuban commander was cordially
greeted by Mr.. Porter, and opened the in
terview by referring to the change for the
better which had taken place in Cuba since
he was last here in September. He also laid
stress on the fact that some people were
ASKING where was Cuba's promised liberty.
in answer to this" said Mr.. Porter, us
| that Cuba now has commercial and indus
| trial liberty and that President Mckinley
| has directed me in framing the Cuban tariff
| to make no determinations in favor of the
| United States in the manner that Spain ia
! vored herself. Cuba is free today to buy in
| the cheapest market. People are returning
| to the pursuits of peace, and our military
government will give way to the civil gov
ernment as fast as possible
Needed His Cooperation
| Mr.. Porter also said that the purpose of
| the American government to lay a firm
| foundation of a noble government for
| Cuba, to give the Cubans all the liberties
| they had fought for and that General
| Gomez must remember that and more STILL
| For instance there are $4,000 or $4,000 Span
| ish soldiers at Cienfuegos who have not
| left Cuba; that we had only beer a month
| on the island and that President Mckinley
| had said that they were entitled to the
| cooperation of all in crested in the well
/ fare 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
Remedios and in which President McIkin-
| ley expected General Gomez aid.
| The Cuban commander In chief replied
| that he was ready and willing to give the
| aid requied, but asked how he could do so.
| TO this Mr. Porter replied that President
| Mckinley would be glad to have him go to
| Havana and cooperate with General
| Brooke in disbanding the Cubans and In
paying over the 100000 appropriated for
| that purpose.
| Amount Too Small
| General Gomez said the amount was too
| small, but that was not his fault and he