Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-03
GOMEZ IS WITH US.
Our Active Ally in Work Of
RsconstIucting Cuba
He ACCEPTS THE 100000,
Says He Will Make II Go as Far
as Possible.
FORMAL COMPACT WITH CUBANs.
Their Commander Agrees to Go to
Habnna and Cooperate With
Brooke In Returning Military EIe-
mcnt TO Pursuits Of Peace.
FORMAL COMPACT WITH CUBANs

REMEDIES. PROVINCE OF SANTA
CLARA, February 2, via HABANA, Feb
ruary 2.-General Maximo Gomez, the
commander-in-chief Of the Cuban army,
placed himself squarey in position to-
day as an active ally of the United States
Government in the work of the recon-
struction of Cuba.
As the result of a conference which Ro-
bert Z. Porter, the special commissioner
of President McKinley's, has had with
General Gomez, the latter cabled to Pres
ident Mckinley this afternoon. assuring
him Of his cooperation I'm dsbanding the
Cuban army, and in distributing among
the Cuban soldiers the $3,OOOOOo appro-
priated for the purpose Of enabling them
to return TO their homes.
General Gomez also telegraphed to
Major-General Brooke, saying he would
accept the latters invitation to go to
Habana.
The success of Mr. Porters mission
greatly simplifes the returning of the
military Cubans to the pursuits Of peace.
PRACTICALLY AN ULTIMATUM.
In view of General Gomez's supposed
prior attitude OF hostility toward the
United states, Mr.. Porter came here
clothed with absolute authority, and the
tender of the $,0JOOOO was practically Il
verbal ultimatum. Had it not been ac-
cepted no more ultmatums would have
been made.
Mr.. Porter made plain the purpose Of
the government, and was gratihed at the
ready response OF General Gomez. The
conference took place at the house here
occupied by the Cuban General as his
headquarters since coming TO town.
When Mr.. Porter arrived here last
week, ne was accompanied by Senor Con
zales Quesada the special commissioner
of the Cuban Junta at Washington: Cap
tain Campbell, Of General BroOke's staff;
Lieutenant Hanna, Of General Woods
staff, and a correspondent of the Asso-
ciated Press.
CUBAN COMMANDER CORDIAL.
The Cuban commander was cordial in
greeting MIR. 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 upon the fact that some
people We're asking where was Cubas
promised liberty.
1.-THE answer to this" said Mr.. Porter.
rs that cuba has now commercial and
industrial liberty, and that President Nc
Kinley has directed me- in framing the
Cuban tariff, 10 make no discrimination
i'm favor OF the United States IN the man
ner that Spain favored herssi. Cuba is
free to-day to buy i'm the cheapest mar
ket Her people are returning to the
af mil
eminent will give way To the civil gov
ernment as fast as possible
Mr.. Porter also said that the purpose Of
the American Government was 10 lay Il
firm foundation of stable government for
cuba. TO give the Cubans all the liberties
they had fought for, and that General
Gomez must remember that; and more
stil, for instance, there were 5000 or
$1,000 Spanish soldiers at Cienfuegos who
have not left Cuba. that we have only
been a month on the island, and that
President Mckinley needed and was en-
titled to the corporation OF all interested
in the welfare and the 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 Gu
ban soldiers 20 work. This was the spe-
cinc mission which had brought Mr..
Porter TO Remedies, and I'm which Pres-
dent Mckinley expected General Comes
aid.
GOMEZ READY TO AID.
The cuban COmmander-in-Chief replied
that he was ready and willing to give
the aid required. but asked how he could
do 50.
To this Mr.. Porter replied that Presi-
dent Mckinley would be glad to have
him go to Habana and cooperate with
General Brooke in disbanding the Gu
bans and in paying over the S,OOO.OOO ap-
propriated for that purpose. General
Gomez said the amount was too small,
but that was not his fault, and he would
make it go as far IS possible, while
likening it TO the miracle of the loaves
and fishes.
mo man in history" said Mr.. Porter,
"has done so much with SO small re-
source as you have 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 respOn-
sibility Of keeping It,
The Cuban General then assured Cap
tain Campbell of his good feeling toward
General Brooke, and the formal compact
was presented TO Gomez by Mr.. Porter,
and was assented TO by General Gomez.
In brief the compact is as follows:
COMPACT WITH CUBANS.
/. The Cuban officers in each province
shall assist the American officers in dis
tributing the fund.
.. These officers shall at once meet at
some convenient point and devise how,
when, and where the payments are 10
be made. and arrange any other details.
3. The sum paid To each man shall not
be regarded as part payment Of salary
or wages due for service rendered. but 90
facilitate the disbandment Of the army
as a relief of suffering. and as an aid i'm
getting the people TO work.
T. The Cubans shall surrender their
arms 70 the cuban Assembly or It's rep
resentatiyes
5. The Committee on Distribution shall
use its best endeavOrs 20 distribute the
fund among the population, so that all
may secure work.
6. The 100000 shall be placed subject
10 the order Of General Brooke. and ac-
ton in the matter shall be immediate.
General Gomez was rendered public
reception this evening and Mr.. Porter
was among those present.
BOMBAsTIC CUBAN STATEMENT.
LONDON, February "A former cap
tain In the Cuban army, Juan Fernandez,