Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-04-25
NO PEACE WITHOUT
ABSOLUTE FREEDOM
General Rafael Portuondo Says the
Cubans Must Have lnds-
pendence.
WOOD ARRIVES IN NEW Yohk
Governor General on tho Way to wash.
ington-Committee From Constitu-
tional Convention VIII Arrive
1t Capital Today.

tlOnAl Convention WILL Afflv0
1T Capital To-day.
Jacksonville, Fla, April 25.-The Gu
ban constitutional committee, which
arrived here Monday night, has left
for Washington.
Gen. Rafael Portuondo, one Of the
committee, defined Cuba's position as
follows:
"Ninety-nine per cent of the Cuban
people desire absolute independence.
1t is their wish that military occupa-
ton by the United States come to an
end at once.
ut may be said that small element
Of Spaniards, from purely CONNER
cial motive, favor annexation, but the
wish for independence is felt by many
Cubans and Spaniards alike. Those
Spaniards who favor annexation are
not impelled by any love for the United
States. They hate Americans, but they
seem to wish some sort Of guaranty as
to their property and business inter-
ests.
Peace with the Americans. without
the independence of Cuba, Is impossi-
ble-I mean moral peace.
II do not mean to say that in the
event independence is not granted war
or revolution will follow, but there
would be no sympathy. no friendliness
between the peoples"
Gen. Wood Arrives.
New York, April 24.-Gen. Leonard A.
Wood, governor general of Cuba, with
Mrs. Wood and his private secretary,
arrived here last night on the Ward
liner MORO Castle.
Gen. Wood, who expects to return to
Havana on Thursday by way of Jack
sonville, Fla, has made the hurried
trip to this country for the purpose Of
| introducing to President Mckinley be-
| fore the latter leaves Washington for
| the Pacific coast the five members OF
| the special commission on foreign re-
| lations appointed by the Cuban consti-
tutional convention which Is still In
session and is expected to take up for
consideration the electoral law which
| will regulate the system by which the
first president of the Cuban republic
will be chosen. AS soon as the steam
ship was made fast to its pier Gen.
Wood and his wife and secretary were
| transferred to the tugboat President
and carried to Jersey City in time to
catch the 9:25 p. m. train for Washing
ton.
Gen. Wood did not hesitate to talk
about affairs in Cuba. 1.-The object Of
my hurried visit here" he said, lis to
introduce five members of the special
commission on foreign relations APP
\ pointed by the Cuban constitutional
convention to President Mckinley. The
members of the commission represent
\ all the different groups of Cubans COM
1 posing the constitutional convention.
They have come to the United States
for the purpose of comforting with
President Mckinley on matters which
the convention does not thoroughly un-
derstand and when they return and
make their report 1 am convinced
that there will be thorough UNDER
standing on all sides of the contro-
versy.
Plat Amendment Not Rejected.
THE constitutional convention has
never voted on or rejected the Plat
amendment. This can state positive
ly, Notwithstanding the reports to the
contrary which have been sent to the
United States from Havana. Things
have been cabled here which had not
the slightest foundation In fact, which
described strained relations between
the representatives of the United
States and those of the Cuban people,
Everything has been harmonious since
went to Cuba and the convention now
\ IL
tive one. Before the Plat amendment
was passed by congress the Cubans
knew the desires of the government or
issues which the amendment contained
because they were submitted to them
through the executive. Intervention
and the establishment of naval stations
are the two things which they do not
properly comprehend, and I think
when they are fully explained ir
Washington the only indication of 8
difference of opinion will have been re-
moved.
"There are really but two great
reduction of the duty on sugar and thu
other is the passage of the constitu
ton. One is economic and the othel
political, yet in a measure, they arr
akin After the constitution has beer
properly framed and adopted the eco
nornic question will disappear, as Their
must be great reduction in the dut,
on sugar Then Cuba will be prosper
GUS and its relations with the United
will end the whole difficulty, and II
twenty-four hours the country can b.
turned over to the republics chosen of
ficials by the Cuban people.
Cubans in Control.
To-day all the departments on tn
island are practically in the hands o
as to how things can be managed, AM
when the time arrives all we will hav
to do will be to take a receipt for tn
money on hand. At the request of con
gress we have accounted for every dol
lar expended in the Improvement Q
: Cuba since the military forces hav
been in charge of the island and w
\