Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-03

RemedloS, Province of Santa Clara,
February l, (via Havana, February %.
General Maxine Gomez. the COM
mander-in-chief of the Cuban army,
placed himself squarely in position to-
day as an active ally of the United
States government in the work of the
| reconstruction of Cuba.
AS result of the conference which
Robert P. Porter. the special COM
missioner of President Mckinley, has
had with General Gomez, the latter
cabled to President Mckinley this
afternoon, assuring him of his CO.
operation in disbanding the Cuban
army and in distributing among the
Cuban soldiers the 100000 appro-
priated for the purpose OF enabling
them to return to their homes. Gen.
Gomez also telegraphed to Major
General Brooke saying he would ac-
cept the latter's invitation to go to
Havana.
When Mr.. Porter arrived here last
week he was accompanied by Senior
Gonzales Queseda, the special commits
sioner of the Cuban junta at Washing
ton; Captain Campbell, of Gen.
Brooke's staff; Lieut.. Hanna, of Gen.
Woods staff, and correspondent of
the Associated Press. Gen. Gomez
had gone to his camp this morning,
but he returned accompanied by his
staff and fifty horsemen on various
kinds of mounts. They rode past the
hotel where Mr.. Porter was stopping,
around the plaza and into side street
to the Cuban headquarters.
The old general wore no insignia of
his rank. He was dressed in a linen
coat and dark trousers, and had a silk
handkerchief over his coat collar. He
also wore black tie and showed a
heavy silver watch and chain with
silver cross attached to it.
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 last here in Sep
TENDER. He also laid stress on the
fact that some people were asking
where was Cuba's promised liberty.
The answer to this" said Mr.. Por-
ter, lis that Cuba has now commercial
and industrial liberty and that Presi-
dent Mckinley has directed me in franz
ing the Cuban tariff to make no dis
examinations in favor of the United
States in the manner that Spain IA
vored herself. Cuba is free to-day to
buy in the cheapest market. People
are returning to the pursuits of peace,
and our military government will give
way to the civil government as fast as
possible"
Mr.. Porter also said that the purpose
of the American government is to lay
a firm foundation of a noble govern
ment for Cuba, to give the Cubans all
the liberties they had fought for, and
that Gen. Gomez must remember that
and more still. For instance, there are
$4,000 or 10000 soldiers at Cienfuegos
who have not left Cuba; that we had
only been month on the island, and
that President Mckinley needed and
was entitled to the cooperation of all
interested in the welfare and future of
Cuba, and that he needed the co-opera-
ton of Gen. Gomez 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.. Porter to
Remedies and in which President Nc
Kinley expected Gen. Gomez's aid.
The Cuban commander in chief replied
that he was ready and willing to give the
aid required, but asked how he could do
So
To this Mr.. Porter replied that Presi-
dent Mckinley would be glad to have
him go to Havana and cooperate with
Gen. Brooke in disbanding the Cubans
and in paying over the $300o,000 appropri-
ated for that purpose.
Gen. 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.
NO man in history" sad Gen. Por-
ter. has done so much with so small
resources as you have done. Hence your
cooperation with Gen. Brooke will bring
good results
Gen. Gomez specially requested that the
money for which Mr.. Porter had orders
in mis- pocket should be paid over to Gen
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 his good feeling toward
Gen. Brooke, and the formal compact was
presented TO Gomez by Gen Porter and
was assented to by Gomez.
The success of Mr.. Porter's mission
greatly simplifies the returning of the
military Cubans to the pursuit of peace
In view of Gen. Gomez's supposed prior
attitude of hostility towards the United
States, Mr.. Porter came here clothed with
absolute authority, and the tender of the
100000 was practically a verbal ulti-
matum. Had il not been accepted no
more ultimatums would have been made
Mr.. Porter made plain the purpose of
| the government and was gratified at the
| ready response of Gen. Gomez
In brief the compact is as follows:
First-The Cuban officers in each PROV
ince shall assist the American officers in
distributing the funds.
Second-That these officers shall at
once meet at some convenient point and
devise how, when and where the pay
ments are to be made and arrange any
other details.
Third-That the sum paid to each man