The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-24
TO SEE THE PRESIDENT.
Commission From Cuban Constitu-
tionaI Convention on the way.


tionaI Convention on the way.
The commission from the Cuban Consti-
tutional Convention to the President, en-
route to Washington. passed through sa-
vannah on the Seaboard train, reaching
here at 2:45 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The stop the train makes in Savannah
was too short to permit an interview with
the members Of the party. Its purpose is
to consult with the President relative to
the Constitution Of Cuba and seek to ar
rive at an understanding that will be sat
isfactory to the Cubans and at the came
time conserve the interests of this coun-
try
The members of the commission are
| Gen. Domingo Mendez Capote, president
! of the commission; Gen. Pedro +. Betan-
court, Gen. Rafael NJ. Portuondo, DR.. Die
| go Tamayo and DR.. Pedro Gonzales Llor-
ente. They are accompanied by Pedro
NJ. Entenza interpreter; Col. NJ NJ. Cor
ronado, editor of La Discussion; NJ. Mar
ques Sterling, representative of the
United Press Of Cuba, and correspondent
of FL Mundo
| In Jacksonville the party stopped over
night and the Jacksonville Times Union
and Citizen OF yesterday morning con-
tains the following interview with one of
the members of the commission:
Most of the other members of the COM
mission were disposed to observe a sim
liar reticence, but Gen. Portuondo talked
freely of Cuban conditions and the feeling
in the island towards America and Ameri-
cans.
Replying to questions. he said, among
other things:
" 'Ninety-nine per cent. of the Cuban
no Ia aF.s - t.
their wish that the military occupation
by the United States come TO an end at
once. 1t may be that a small element of
Spaniards, from purely commercial mo-
tive, l should say not over 10000, would
favor annexation. but the wish for indie
pendence is felt generally by Cubans and
Spenards alike. Those Spaniards who
favor annexation are not impeIled by any
love for the United States. They hate
Americans, but they seem to wish some
sort of guaranty 90 their property and
business interests.
Peace with the Americans without the
independence of Cuba is impossible. 1
mean moral peace. / do not mean to say
that in the event that independence is not
granted. war or revolution would follow.
but that there would be no sympathy, no
friendliness between the peoples
mo, we should not desire free trade
with the United States If the indepen-
dence of our country were established.
We should require revenues to support
our government. and we would find it
necessary to raise them by customs
duties. What we would wish. though,
would be a specially devised system OF
tariff duties between the two countries,
making the rates as low as practicable,
and to the mutual advantage of both coun-
tries.
Have sanitary conditions under Gen.
Woods administration improved? inquired
the reporter.
''Yes-to some extent they have. was
the reply. But they have cost the Cubans
a great deal, and the reporter gathered
the impression that the General meant
that the cost to the Cubans was more
than it should have been.
"What is thought of Gen. Wood in
| Cuba? was asked.
Gen Wood is a man who will make
any kind of promise. but is not regarded
as one who carries those promises out"
was the answer. 60 to Cen Wood and
ask that road or a street be opened or
cleared, and he answers that the order
will be given at once. This consent he in
variably gives-and that Is usually the
last of it," The speaker clearly intimated
that Gen. Wood was not popular in Cuba
! Gen. Portuondo is a lawyer by profess
| sion, and a man of attractive appearance
| and address.