The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-03

Remedies, Province of Santa Clara,
Cuba, Feb. l (yia Havana, Feb. %
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 the recon-
struction OF Cuba.
As 9. result OF the conference which
Robert 2. Porter. the special commits
siOner Of President Mckinley. has had
with General Gomez, the latter cabled
To President Mckinley this afternoon.
assuring MIN of mis- cooperation in dis
banding the Cuban army and in dis
'ributing among the Cuban soldiers the
100000 appropriated for the purpose
of enabling them to return 10 their
homes.
General Gomez also telegraphed to
Major General Brooke. saying he would
accept the latters Invitation TO go 70
Havana.
When Mr.. Porter arrived here
week he was accompanied by SeA
Gonzales Quesada, the special commits
siOner Of the Cuban junta at Washing
ton: Captain Bell Of General Brooke's
staff, Lieutenant Hanna OF General
" OOQ = StcA-ls ana Il tOlLeSl lQllutuL o.
the Associated Press. General Gomez
had gone To his camp this morning.
but he returned, accompanied by his
staff and fifty hOrsemeD, on various
kinds OF mounts. They rode past the
hotel where Mr.. Porter was stopping.
around the plaza and to a side street
to the Cuban headquarters.
General Gomez was seen by Senior
Quesada, and after an hours confer
ence this afternoon Mr.. Porter, accom-
panied by Senior QGesada. Captain
Campbell and Lieutenant Hanna, was
received by General Gomez in his par
Tor up one fight OF stairs, and in the
presence Of his staff.
The old gentleman wore no insignia
OF his rank. He IVES dressed in a linen
coat and dark trousers and had a silk
handkerchief over his coat collar. He
also wore 4 black tie and showed a
heavy silver watch and chain, with a
cross attached to il.
The Cuban commander was cordial
in greeting Mr. Porter and opened the
interview by referring to the change
for the better which had taken place in
Cuba since he was here in September.
He also laid stress on the fact that
some people were asking where was
Cuba's promised liberty.
CUBA HAS LIBERTY.
"The answer to this" said Mr.. Por-
ter. lis that Cuba now has commercial
and industrial liberty and that Presi-
dent 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 The peo-
pie are returning to the pursuits OF
peace. and our military government
viii give way to civil government as
fast as posi- BILE
Mr.. Porter also said that the purpose
of the American government was to lay
the firm foundation of a noble govern
ment for Cuba, to give the Cubans all
the liberty they had fought for and that
General Gomez must remember THAI
and stll more. For instance. there
We're %, 600 to $4,000 Spanish soldiers at
CienfuegOs, who had not left Cuba;
that we had only been q month on the
island. and that President Mckinley
needed and was entitled 10 the CO.
operation of all interested in the well
fare and future of Cuba. and that he
needed the cooperation Of General Co
mez 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.
VI lGl 10 1NCtllCNAlOSr anu III W 4lltu RES
ident Mckinley expected General Co
mez's aid.
The Cuban commander-in-chief re-
piled that he was ready and willing to
give the aid required. but asked how
ne could do so.
To this Mr.. Porter replied that Presi-
dent 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, 600
appropriated for that purpose.
AMOUNT TOO SMALL.
General Gomez said the amount was
too small. but that was not his fault
and he would make it go as far as pos
sible, while hkening it TO the miracle
of the lOaves and fishes.
No man in history" said MIR. Por-
ter" has done SO much with so small
resources as you have done. Hence
your cooperation with General Brooke
viii bring good results
General Gomez specially required that
the money. for which Mr. Porter had
orders in his pocket, should be paid
over to General Brooke and not to him
self as ne did not want the personal re-
spOnsibility OF keeping it.
The Cuban general then assured Cap
tain Campbell of his good feeling to
ward General Brooke, and the formal
com pact was pfcSSuleu 10 OeueTdi 10
mez by Mr.. Porter. and was assented
to by General Gomez.
TERMS OF COMPACT.
In brief. the compact is as follows:
First-The Cuban officers in each
province shall assist the American Off
GERS in distributing the funds
Second-That these officers shall at
once meet ct some convenient point
and devise when and where the settle
ments are TO be made, and arrange any
other details.
Third-That the sum paid to each
man shall not be regarded as part pay
ment of salary or wages due for service
rendered. 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.
Fourth-The Cubans shall mrrendez