The Portland daily press., 1899-02-03
GOMEZ WILL HELP.
Cuban Leader to Assist in Disband.
ing Army.
VETERAN WRITES A LETTER TO
PRESIDENT MCKINLEY.
Says He Win he Glad to Cooperate and
WIN Visit Gen. Brooke at Hsvsna--
s3,O0o,ooo To he Distribated Among
Cubaus

VIII Visit Gen. Brooke at Havana--
$4,000, 900 To ne Distributed Among
Cubsns.
Remedies, Santa Clara, February L.
tviH Havana. February 2).-Gen Msximo
Gomez, the oommander-in-chief Of the
Cuban army. placed himself squareiy In
position today as . native ally OF the
United States government In the woTk of
the reconstruction of Cuba. As result
Of the conference which Mr.. Robert Por-
ter, the commissioner, has had with 6en.
Gomez, the latter cabled to President
MoKinley this afternoon assuring him
Of his cooperation In disbanding the
Cuban army and IN distributing among
the Cuban soldiers the 90. 900. 600 spfro-
priated for the purpose OF enabling them
to return to their homes.
Con. Gomez also autographed TO Major
General Brooke saying he would accept
the latter's invitation to go to Havana.
The success of Mr.. Porter's mission
greatly simplines the returning of ehe
military Cubans to the pursuits of peace.
In view OF Gen. Gomez supposed prior
attitude OF hostility towards the United
States, Mr.. Porter came here clothed with
absolute authority and the tender of the
s8, 900, 900 was practically a.verbal ulti
matum. Had It not been accepted no
more overtures ould have been made.
The conference took place at the house
here occupied by the Cuban general at
his headquarters since coming TO town.
When Mr.. Porter arrived here last eve
ming, he was accompanied by Senor
Con males Quesads. tho special commits
| sioner OF the Cuban junta at Washing
| ton; Capt. Campbell Of Gen. BIooke's
staff Lieut.. Hanna Of Gen. Woods staff
Press.
The Cuban commander opened the in
terview by referring to the change for
the better which had taken place In
Cuba sincs he was last here, In SepteIni
| ber. He also laid stress on the fact that
some people were asking where was
| Cuba's promised liberty.
1.-THE answer 80 this, said MIR. Porter,
sis that Cuba now has commercial and
industrial liberty and that President
| Mckinley has directed me, In framing
the Cuban tariff, TO make no discrimi
nations in favor OF the United States IN
the manner that spain favored herself.
G lba Is free today to buy In the cheapest
market People are returning TO the
pursuits of peace and our military govern
ment will give way 10 the city govern
| ment rs fast as possible.
Mr.. Porter said that.the purpose of the
American government Ia % lay a frm
| foundation Of noble government for
Cuba and to give the Cubans all the lib
critics they had fought for. 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 speoitio mission
which had brought Mir. Porter to Rene
dios and in which President MCKINLEY ex
peoted 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 70 Havana and CO. operate with
| Gen. Brooke IN disbanding the Cubaps
and paying over the IS, 600. 600 nppropri-
ated for that purpose.
Cen Gomez said the amount was too
small, but that was not his fault ana ne
would make 1t 60 AS far as possible
The Cuban general then assured Capt.
| Campbell OF his good feeling to Gen.
| Brooke, and the formal compact was pre-
sented to Gomez by MIR. Porter and was
nted to by Gen. Gomez.
| In brief. the compact is as follows:
First-Ihe Cuban officers In each prov
| ince shall assist the American officers in
l
distributing the funds.
Second-That these officers shall at once
meet at sJme convenient point and de-
oide how. when and where the payment ts
are to be made and arrange any other de-
| tails.
Third-That the sum paid to each man
shall not be regarded as part payment of
salary or wages due for service rendered.
but to facilitate the disbandment of the
army as a relief of suffering and as an
aid in getting the people TO work.
! Fourth-The Cubans shall surrender
their arms to the Cuban assembly or to
to representatives.
! Fifth-Tbe committee on distribution
shall use Its best endeavors 30 distribute
1t among the population So that all may
secure work.
Sixth-That the 81, 900 shall be
placed subject to the order OF Gen.
iIrooke and that action in the matter
| shall be immediate.
Gen. Gomez was tended q public reoep-
tlon this evening and MIR. Porter was
among those present.
Remedies. Province of Santa Clara.
Febrr ary 2.-(via Camajuani )-Immedi
a.sly af,er Yesterdays conference Gen.
Gomez wrote the following letter to Pres
iaeut Mckinley. in Spanish:
Republic of Cuba,
Headquarters of the Army,
Remedies, February !, 80.
| President Mckinley, washington:
1t has been q great pleasure to confer
with your commissioner. Mr.. Porter, In
troduced by my friend Quesada and l am
now aware OF and pleased with your
wishes In a short time l shall go 70
Havana and confer with Gen. Brooke SO
that everything will go we'll Following
your advice. I willingly cooperate In
tbs work of reconstructing Cuba.
| (Signed)
Maximo Gomez, General.
Today Gen. Gomez is preparing for tn ,
trip to Havana. The whole attitude OF
the old fighter is much more cordial than
was anticipated by Nr. Porter. He told
the latter he was proud to receive the
special commissioner of the President
and he is evidently much gratifed with
the prospect of the early solution OF the
disbandment problem.
The money will be sent on Commission
er Porter's order to Gen. Brooke and
will be paid out as called for, by distri-
button through sub committees of Cuban
and American offioars in the various