The times., 1901-04-26

The Cuban commissioners made the
acquaintance of the President yester-
day. but did not discuss with him the
matters affecting the relations between
the United States and Cuba. which
have brought them to Washington
Their presentation at the White House
yesterday was very formal, and their
reception was accompanied with consid-
cradle ceremony. which tended to i'm
press the delegation with their own i'm
portance and dignity.
While the reception rendered them by
the President was very cordial. and
such as to inspire very kindly feeling
for the President among the Cubans, il
was nevertheless very diplomatic. At
the audience with the President. which
occurred in the Blue Parlor and lasted
for about half an hour. there was little
said other than an exchange Of friendly
greetings and courtesies. The Cubans
did not attempt to discuss the purpose
of their visit to Washington. and it is
probable that they will have very little
opportunity to enter extensively into a
consideration of Cuban affairs with the
President before his departure for the
West. In fact. but two more working
days remain before he leaves, and all
of his time viii be occupied in winding
UP matters which are pressing for his
attention before he leaves.
The President has. however. very
largely delegated the matter of treating
with the commission TO Secretary Root
and authorized the Secretary of War to
explain his position to them, and make
it plain that it is impossible for him to
annul or modify the terms of the Piatt
amendment. which is a law passed by
Congress- General Wood has gone over
the Cuban situation in all its various
phases with Secretary Root, so that he
is thoroughly informed as to the best
method Of treating with the Cubans
Both have conferred with the President
and he is satisfied to leave the matter
largely in the hands Of the Secretary of
War.
Consequently With the exception of
the more or less informal talk which
was had at the dinner at the White
House last night, Secretary Root will
be left TO stale the purposes and inten-
tionS Of this Government TO the COM
mission and TO send them home salts
fed that the adoption Of the provisions
of the Plat amendment is the best
course 10 be pursued. There is no qucs-
tion. however but that the cordial man
ner with which the President has re-
ceived the commission and the cour-
tesies which have been shown them
have gone a long ways toward placing
the delegation in very amiable mood.
The members started out upon their
mission yesterday morning by calling
upon the Secretary. of War. They drove
to the department at Il o'clock, and
were presented TO Secretary Root. After
half hours talk with him, at which
General Wcod and Assistant Secretary
Sanger were present, they drove to the /
White House. where the President was
waiting to receive them.
Secretary Root, Assistant Secretary /
Sanger. ard General Wood preceded /
them. The delegates were accompanied |
by Capt. Sawtelle and Lieutenant Over
ton, in uniform, representing the army. /
They were escorted 70 the Blue Parlor,
where they We're received by the Pres
ident General Wood introduced the
several members Of the delegation.
Sencr Tamayo the chairman Of the
commission. acted as spokesman for the
commission. He addressed the Presi-
dent. speaking through the interpreter,
Senor Entenza. His remarks were for
nal in character, expressing the pleas
ure OF himself and his associates in |
having the honor Of an audience with
the President, and briefly referring TO /
the good Offices which the United States
has extended to Cuba. The President
replied by extending a cordial welcome
10 the visitors, and giving them the as
suTance Of his kindest interest toward
the people Of the island. His remarks
were repeated in Spanish by Senor En-
tenza. Senor Capote, the President Of
the Cuban Constitutional Convention,
also spoke along the same line as Senor
Tamsyo, referring to the ties Of friend
ship which bind together the people Of
the United States and Cuba
The President congratulated the
members Of the delegation upon being
members Of the Constitutional Conven-
ton. stating that if was a high honor.
and one which fell TO but few men to
have the opportunity of framing the
law Of a republic. He said
that the welfare of Cuba would always
be a matter Of utmost interest TO the
United States, and assured the commits
sion that the Secretary Of War would
extend to them every possible consider
alton. and having intimate knowledge |
Of the Cuban situation would treat with
them further as his representative. ]
The delegation left with a favorable !
impression Of the Presidenf and what {
he had said TO them. They remained,
as heretofore, reticent upon all matters !.
pertaining TO their conference with the
officials and as TO their purposes while i
In Washington. Later in the afternoon
they went again to the War Depart- S
ineht and conferred with Secretary i
Root r
AT O'Clock in the afternoon the con-
terence began at the War Department =
hose present being the members of the
commission and their Interpreter Gen y
eral Wood and his secretary, Secretary t
Root, Assistant Secretary Sanger. and d
'aptain SaWtelle and Lieutenant over i
on. The conference being secret. the D
Members OF the commission and the Of
iciais all refused 10 say anything about G
l. 1t can be stated, however, that alb c
.olutely nothing but the clauses Of the t.