The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-07
GENERAL GOMEZ RECONCILED
Agrees to Cooperate With the Amer.
fcans-Accepfs the Offer Of go. 100000
for the Cuban Soldiers and VIII AS
sfst IL Their Dfsba dment

the SshSI VI SosUOUsOUV
for the Cuban Soldiers and viii As
sfst I'm Their Disban dment
Remedies, Province of Santa Clara,
February 1, via Havana, February g.
General Maxine Gomez, the command
er-in-chief of the Cuban army, placed
himself squarely in position today as
an active ally of the United States
government in the work Of reconstruc-
tion of Cuba.
As a result of the conference which
Robert p. Porter, h special commits
sioner of President Mckinley, has had
with General Gomez, the latter cabled
to President Mckinley this afternoon
assuring him Of his cooperation in dis
banding the Cuban army and in dis
tributing among the Cuban soldiers the
So, 900, 900, appropriated for the purpose
OF enabling them to return to their
homes, General Gomez also telegraph
ed to Major General Brooke, saying
he would accept the latter's invitation
TO go to Havana.
The success of Mr.. Porter's mission
greatly simpliies the returning Of the
military Cubans to the pursuits Of
peace.
In view Of General Gomez's suppos-
Eo P1lOI I "a N"~
the United States, Mr.. Porter came
here clothed with absolute authority,
and the tender of the $4,000, 600 was
practically a verbal ultimatum. Had
it not been accepted, no more ultima
tums would have been made.
Mr.. Porter made plain the purpose
of the government, and was gratified
at the ready response Of General Go
mez. The conference took place at
the house here occupied by the Cuban
general as his headquarters since COM
ing to town. The Cuban commander
was cordial in his greeting to Mr.. Por-
ter, and opened the interview by refer
ring 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 vas Cuba's promis-
ed liberty.
THE answer to this" said Mr.. Por-
ter, sis hat Cuba now has commercial
and industrial liberty and that Presi-
dent Mckinley has directed me, in
framing the Cuban tariff, to make no
discrimination in favor of the United
States in the that Spain ia
Vored herself. Cuba is free today to
buy in h cheapest market. People are
returning to h pursuits Of peace and
our military government will give way
to the civil government as fast as pos
sible."
Mr.. Porter also said that the pur-
pose of the American government is to
lay a firm foundation of noble govern
ment 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 25,O 900 or $4,000 Spanish SOL
diers at Cienfuegos who have not left
Cuba; that we had only been a month
on the island and that President Nc
Kinley needed and was entitled to the
cooperation of all interested in the
welfare 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 disarmament of
r Cuban army and the return Of the
Cuban soldiers to work. This was the
specific mission which a brought him
here IN in which President Mckinley
expected General Gomez's aid.
The Cuban cOmmander-in-chief re-
piled hat he was ready and willing to
give the aid required but asked how
he could do so.
To this Mr.. Porter replied that Pres
ident Mckinley would be glad to have
him go to Havana and cooperate with
General Brooke in disbanding the Gu
bans and in paying over the $4,000, 900
appropriated for that purpose.
General Gomez said the amount was
too small, but that was not his fault,
and he wca'd make it go as far as
Gle of the loaves and fishes.
mo man in history" said Mr.. Por-
ter, has done so much with so small
as ye7ahave done. Hence,
your cooperation with General Brooke
will bring good results"
General Gomez especially requested
that the money, for which Mr.. Porter
had orders in his pocket, should be
paid over to General Brooke and not
to himself, as he did not want the
personal responsibility of keeping it.
The Cuban general then assured Cap
tain Campbell, of General Brooke's
staff, of his good feelings to General
Brooke and the formal compact was
presented to Gomez by Mr.. Porter and
was assented t. by General Gomez.
In brief the compact is as follows:
The Cuban officers in each prov
ince shall assist the American Off
GERS in distributing the funds.
That these officers shall at once meet
at some convenient point and devise
how, when and where the payments
are to be made, n arrange any other
details.
That the sum paid to each man shall
not be regarded as part payment of
salary or wages due for service rem
dered, but to facilitate the disband-
ment of the army, as a relief of suffer-
ing and as an aid in getting the people
to work.
The Cubans shall surrender their
arms to the Cuban assembly or to it's
representatives.
The committee on distribution shall
use it's best endeavors to distribute it
so that they may secure work.
That the $4,000, 900 shall be placed
subject to the order of General Brooke
and that action in the matter sha be
immediate.
General Gomez was rendered a pub
lie reception this evening and Mr.. Por-
ter was among those present.
Troops Arriving at Manila