The Washington weekly post., 1899-05-16
Refuses to Believe the Cuban
Acted i'm Bad Faith.
CONFER on WAR PAYMENT TO-DAY
Gen. Rodriguez Denies the Truth Of Cur
rent Reports About His Old Leader. and
Declares that sznguily l. to Blame for
the Delay In the Distribution of Tue
81, 600. 000-A -Agitators Talking of Fight
ing sooner Than Surrender Their Arms.

Havana, May l4-Gen. Gomez has sent
message to Gov. Gen Brooke that nj
vii do himself the pleasure OF calling a.
headquarters tomorrow morning at
O'Clock for further conference regarding
the payment of the Cuban troops The
appointment for the interview is the re.
suit OF a direct inquiry as 10 what Gen
Gomez intended TO do, In view Of the
resignation and non-appeaTance Of ali the
Cuban officers nominated by him 10 repre-.
sent the several corps in the distribution
OF the 100000.
Gen Brooke is determined to disregard
for the present. the reports that reach
him from various sources az to the al
legged intention of Gomez 10 withdraw his
cooperation. and thus to throw into con-
fusion the carefully matured plans for
distributing the fund. He believes that
the personal interview tomorrow ought
to adjust the matter. and to point the
way out Of the temporary perplexity. He
is unwilling TO consider Gomez as insin-
cere or as acting in bad faith; but the
Governor General still retains the dis
eretion repOsed in him by President Nc,
Kinley TO abandon the effort to disband
the late insurgents, with the gratuity. and
TO send back the entire amount to the
United States.
AFriend's Explanation.
The Cuban General Rafael Rodriguez
speaking for Gomez to-day said that the
reports of difference with Gen. Brooke
were absolutely untrue. The attitude of
Gomez he declared. had undergone no
change, and the principal Generals of the
Cuban Army, as well as the rank ana file.
continued to support Gomez as they al
ways had. He fatty denied that there had
been any meeting of Cuban officers. at
which Gomez had been present or held
with his approval, where a decision had
been reached not to surrender the arms.
and he explained that all the talk about a
revolt in the army against the surrender
ing of the arms was the work of men,
bers OF the former military assembly,
group of malcontents behind Manuel San
gully, who can give no trouble, and are
not worth consideration"
In explaining the withdrawal of the
Cuban Generals who were appointed 10
serve with the Americans in distributing
the 100000, Gen. Rodriguez said that
Rojas probably withdrew owing to the
anti-GomeZ influence; Nodarse because
Cen. Brooke had not appointed him Civil
Governor OF Havana, and MOnteaeudO be-
ca1se he was busy in the province of
Santa Clara, giving Maj. Gen. Wilson the
benefit Of his cooperation there. Rodri-
guez expressed himself as confident that
other officers of equal prominence and
authority would be found TO act with the
Americans.
Threats of the Malcontents
As early as March % Gomez agreed that
the arms should be stored in the military
custody of the United States. This plan
was clearly understood by the Cubans.
Nevertheless. the politicians and some OF
the more restless OF the Cuban officers are
to-day talking in a warlike strain. spread
ing exciting stories about taking 10 the
woods" and fighting the Americans, and
attributing to Gomez things he never said.
A report is in circulation this evening
that the Cuban Colonel, Agardin, who
has been employed in the preparation qf
the Cuban army lists. has been detecteh
padding the rolls, so as to defraud the
distributors to the extent of $500. The
military authorities. however, deny the re-
port.
Gen. Gomez called upon friends in Ha-
vana to-day, and attended services in
memory OF Capt Escironde, who was
killed TWO years ago at Cienfuegos