New-York tribune., 1901-08-13
THE FUTURE OF CUBA.
PALMA AND GOMEZ DID NOT SAY SHE
WOULD NATURALLY GRAVITATE TO
THE UNITED STATES.

MPSSrS.
New-York TO the president pro tenn. Of the
Cuban Republican party in Havana, 10 the
effect that they authorized by Tomas
Estrada Palma TO deny categOrically the annex
alton utterances attributed by the American
press TO him. there comes a letter from Sehor
Palma himself. which constitutes to-day the
main note in the political situation. Public at
tention and interest had been recently stirred to
the bottom by the declarations attributed to tn"
former president OF the Cuban revolutionary
Junta in the United States and the commander
in-chief of the patriot forces in the field
Cable dispatches to Havana reported Senior
Palma the leading probable candidate for the
Presidency Of the Cuban republic as saying
that annexation is the manifest destiny Of
Cuba" adding. however that the Cubans who
fought and suffered wish to see a free Cuba,
even If only for a short time" They also
quoted Maxine Gomez declaring that the
natural destiny Of Cuba is annexation to the
United States"
These alleged utterances of Sefores Palma
and Gomez were sharply criticised by Cubans
when they became known in Havana. 1t was
generally thought. however. that If the speak
ers had been correctly quoted their remarks
must be understood as having reference 10 the
distant future after the establishment Of an
independent Cuban government, and after the
people OF Cuba should have expressed their
much TO say that there is no present strength
here in the annexation movement. In dis
cussinR the declarations which Senores Gomez
and Palma were credited with having mace
st the Union League Club dinner, Cubans sought
N erophasize the fact that both speakers were
speaking OF the future, as distinguished from
she r,resent for both Gomez and Palma must
have known the feeling here concerning annex
a+ion. Cubans said that even If the speakers
nero quoted correctly they both stated un-
AouivocaIly that in their opinion. Cuba must
ere. he absolutely independent. Much OF the
Palma Gomez speeches on that OCCASION "as
attributed 10 their natural courtesy as guests.
They were supposed TO believe that the people Oh
the Tinted States would be pleased py such
remarks. 49,,
constitutional convention pointed out 'here vac
an apparent desire on the part Of the SPEAKERS
:. sroootb over some Of the difficulties which
ba5 lately arisen. when some Americans had
.oc,,sAd the Cubans of ingratitude, and some
Cubans had charged the Americans with use oI
force and violation of promises made perhaps
a majority of the Cubans who are conVersdht
With the relations between the two countries
thought that If the declarations of the speakers
were made as reported. IL was because OF tHe
desire Of Maxine Gomez and Estrada Palma 10
do what they could TO prevent forcihle &nneNa-
would 'gravitate" voluntarily 10 the United
states after a period Of absolute Independence
For Il is fact that there is still some DOUBT IN
many Cuban minds whether the new govern
rnent will be established as promised by the
Washington administration
When General Gomez returned 10 Cuba from
his trip to Senor Palma he vas besieged by
thousand inquiries to whether he rad SAID
what the dispatches from New-York credited
him with. He replied that ii was ridiculous 10
suppose that he had said any such thing" And
when he was urged to enlarge upon the denial
thus promptly made he took refuge in Silence
and had nothing more TO say about the matter
But the public would not let it rest there. A
committee was appointed from one Of the politi-
cal parties 70 see Sehor Palma with the res ult
above indicated And, TO clinch the matter,
Senior Palma has written long letter 10
Horatio s Rubens, VINO seems 10 have been the
Original Palma man in which the probable
candidate for the Cuban Presidency e1nphat-
ically denies the annexation doctrines put into
his mouth Senior Palma said he had read in he
Havana newspapers an echo Of what pub
ushed in New-York regarding ;he dinner At the
Union League Club given by Mr. Stokes in
honor OF General Gomez. He supposed that
General Gomez on his arrival Havana had
denied what had been put in their mouths.
However that might be. the writer assured Mr..
Rubens that what attributed to Gomez and
himself regarding me possibility Of the future
annexation Of Cuba to the United States was
absolutely false. Neither in the Union League
Club nor in any other place tho slightest
reference made 70 this eeffct. nor any such
reference necessary as General Gomez was op-
posd 10 such a solution Of the problem at any
time. Who would believe that General Gomez
would make trip to the United Staes for the
purpose Of speaking in favor Of annexation
against the wishes and hopes Of the Cuban peo-
pie with whom both Gomez and himself are
closely identified? The improbability Of the
thing Is so apparent on its face that none save /
the malicious or the flppant would credit it. he
wrote.
At the dinner Mr. Stokes had expressed the |
admiration which he had always felt for the /
Cuban chief. General Gomez had replied that |
he appreciated the honors paid him. General |
Woods private secretary, Alexandra Gonzales /
had acted as interpreter.
Senor Palma spoke next, thanking Mr. Stokes
FOR the honor and for the support which he had |
formerly given the Cubans in arms. Thereafter |
reporters called 70 see Mr.. Stokes. There were
two representatives from The Associated Press |
and another whose name Sehor Palma does not
recall. The reporters were presented to General |
Gomez To the question 10 what impression !
the general had received Of his visit to the
United States Gomez had replied substantially /
as follows:
Before coming il was not possible to form a
United States for the people Of Cuba, TO whom
rather than these manifestations of af-
fection are intended ] have only words Of graf |
itude and affection for the people OF the United
States, who made cause their cause ana |
aided US with the blood Of their sons in con-
Quering independence. Therefore in every |
American we see not only a friend but also a |
brother and II is not surprising. therefore, that
] am glad to take advantage Of my visit 10 the !
United States TO express these sentiments, being
sure as ] am. that express the sentiments Of |
= na n n 70 fba