The record-union., 1899-03-14
viii Cit No Figure 50 Far as the United
States Is Concerned.
This GovernYfient Han Not Nor Will
Recognize the So-Ca11ed Cuban
Congress, It's Dealing in Affairs
Being Directly With Gomez,
Who Will Still be Recognized
as the Leading Authority Of
the Island People.

to the Tribune" from Washington
says:
News from Havana of the Cuban AS
sembly's action will cause no change in
the Administrations policy. The Amer
lean military authorities in Cuba will
continue to recognize Gomez and to
deal with him 1t is not believed that
the turmoil which has been created
temporarily will make necessary any
change in the plans for the withdrawal
of the volunteers, though, if the devel-
opments seem to require it, the plans
will be modified. The intention was to
have all the volunteers out of Cuba by
April 10th. Peremptory instructions
have been given that the transports
shall be available SO that there will be
no delay in withdrawing the troops.
This is understood to have been done
by direct orders of President Mckinley.
No serious concern is felt over the
action of the Assembly. Official reports
have all increased the confidence felt
in Gomez. He has impressed General
Brooke and the other military commits
sioners with his sincerity, and they
have stated their confidence in his abil-
fty to secure the disarmament of the
insurgent army. So complete is their
confidence that General Brooks has
completed the scheme of rural police
to be organized from the ranks Of the
disbanded insurgents.
Gomez gave his adhesion to the plans
and was ready to cooperate in making
it effective
The Cuban Assembly has never re-
ceived official recognition from the
United States. Unofficial consideration
was given to the existence of such a
body, and the commission which came
to Washington. headed by General Gar
cha, was received Informally, just as
Mr.. Quesada was received in giving in
formation about the Cuban affairs. The
commission arranged for the $30OO,O00
payment, but the Administration gave
neither to it nor to the Assembly the
holding of the funds.
The instructions under which General
Brooke is acting are specific. They are
based on the supposition that the insur-
gent army consists of total of 10000
men and officers. The rolls must be pro-
duced to show that the benefciaries of
the fund joined the insurgenlt army be-
fore the surrender of Santiago. This is
a liberal provision, for it recognizes
those who did not take their chances
with the insurgents until the American
fleet blockaded Havana in April Never
theless, it excludes several thousand
camp followers who succeeded in get
ting themselves enrolled after the proc
tocol was signed. All the insurgent
Generals were Disguised with these
camp followers. and the Assembly d.
rected that 1000 of them should be
out. There is no evidence
that this has been DONE
General Brooke's instructions also re-
quire that when the insurgents receive
the payment and are disbanded their
arms shall be delivered up to the Amer
lean military authorities. A mistaken
report was circulated that the arms
were to be delivered to the Cuban au
thorities. No such loose arrangement
was sanctioned. The arms are not of
great financial value, but they will be
held in trust by the American author
tiles just like other property. 1t is also
an erroneous impression that the United
States makes a gift of S3,O00,000 The
sum is gift simply in the sense that
it is advanced without a specific ar
for it's repayment being
made The United States contents it
self with the simple statement that the
advance is to be repaid out of the fu-
ture revenues of the island.
The statement from Havana that the
Assembly has not yet agreed to ac-
cept the $3,OOO,00O shows the ludicrous
which the members have
of their own position. 1t does not rest
with them, but with the insurgent SOL
diers to accept the bounty. The funds
have been shipped to General Brooke.
to be paid out directly, and not through
the agency of the Assembly He has
been arranging the details for paying
out the money with General Gomez. In
members of the commission which
came to Washington were sharply crit
icised and defended themselves vigor-
ously While hostility to Gomez has
much to do with the action of the AS
sembly, it has also been influenced by
financial Adventures.
These have presented many schemes
for creating a great bonded indebted
ness The knowledge that these were
being urged caused General Brooke to
make the official declaration that the
United States would recognize no in
debtedness created by the Assembly
One of the schemes was to make valid
the $20,O00,0O0 of paper money issued
by the Spanish bank of Cuba in Wey-
Ier's time, and to use it for the payment
Of the troops. This scrip has a specu-
lative value of five or six cents on the
dollar.
While the immediate future is not
clear, Administration officials have the
utmost confidence that the policy which
has been adopted will work successfully
General Brooke will not be hampered
in his dealings with Gomez. The re-
ports from the army officers, as well as
from the American civilian officials in
Cuba, have all been to the effect that
his leadership is recognized by an over
majority of the people. Some
Of the army officers who, in the begin
ming doubted, were convinced of his in