The record-union., 1899-04-03
Says His Strongest Desire Now Is to
Return Home.
Shows That It Was the Assembly
That Obtained the $3,OOO,OOO
and Then Blamed Him for Ac-
cepting 1.-THE Only Method
Left Was to Raise a Loan, for
Which the Assembly Lacked the
Adequate Authority.

HAVANA, April 2.-General Maxine
Gomez, in a long letter directed to his
wife in Santo Domingo, reviews his
differences with the so-caled Military
Assembly. He begins by describing
the situation as it was when Robert
p Porter, as the special representative
of President Mckinley, visited Cuba
after the Assembly's represent atives at
Washington had obtained promise of
S3,O00,OOO from the President. The
writer, proceeding, says:
This action on the part of the AS
sembly's committee 1 approved. 1t
was then that Mr.. Porter appeared and
asked me as Commander-i Chief to
decide to accept the $3OO0,OO0 to aid
in its distribution and in the disarming
Of the army and to proceed forthwith
to Havana to assist the United States
Military Governor, General Brooke ]
agreed, and on arriving at Havana, !
conferred with General Brooke con-
cerning the payment and the disarma-
ment. 1t was decided that General
Brooke should request Washington to
ship to Cuba the s., ,000O0O which had
been obtained by the representatives Of
the Assembly. / saw to the adjustment
of all the questions that led up to the
termination of the ridiculous armed
situation and began to entertain hopes
of an early return to San Domingo.
''The Assembly then called upon me to
visit its President, saying that the OBJ
ject sought was an unofficial exchange
of ideas. But they placed me upon
the bench of the accused, my crime be-
ing that 1 was inclined to accept the
S3,OO0,O00 which the Assembly itself
through its representatives, had in
duced President Mckinley to promise
matter as to which / had not been
consulted. 1t appeared that I had
! broken off negotiations for S13,OO0,000
To all this 1 replied that 1 had acted in
the best faith but that nothing had
been lost as / would Withdraw the ac-
ceptance l had given. They then re-
quested me to array myself on their
side in order to give strength to their
resolutions. l answered that I had
always done so and would continue to
do so except in cases where the course
of the Assembly was opposed to my con-
science, to my sense of justice and to
my idea Of the best interests of Cuba.
Regarding the matters under con-
sideration, / said I had no hope of OBJ
tanning more than the $1,000 GOO from
the United States and disapproved ask
ing charity, contending that the only
method left was to raise a loan, for
which the Assembly lacked adequate
authority. Furthermore, 1 pointed out
that the soldiers could not wait; that
already they were too great a burden
upon the people Of Cuba and that long
er delay appeared to me to be cruel
The conference ended without ac-
complishing anything. I saw l could
not make myself understood by the
Assembly and decided not to be mixed
up in it's doings, but to await develop
ments. A few days later three men
whom 1 did not know, visited me and
said that several millionaires stood
ready to facilitate loan of many mill
lions, but that the matter was possible
only with my cooperation. l an
swered that l could not consider any
proposition of the kind and regarded
it as strange that anyone would be
ready to lend money without a guar
antee. My visitors replied that the City
Council could arrange a guarantee.
Then a committee of the Assembly
approached me. asking me to support
the Assembly's efforts to obtain a loan.
To this 1 replied that Cuba could not
make a loan as she lacked the necessary
authority. The next day the Assem-
bly, deposed me.
IT consider 1 have acted honorably
and my strongest desire now is to return
home"