The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-25
A CONFERENCE over CUBA
The President TO Receive the Com
missioners Today.
Several Consultations Held by Adj
miniatration officials and General
Wood - The Islanders Rcticent
Concerning Their Mission Here.

Gen. Leonard Wood, the Military Gov
! ernor OF Cuba, and the members of
the commission of the Cuban Constitu-
tional Convention. arrived in Washington
yesterday morning to confer with the
President and the Secretary of War con-
cerning matters affecting the island. They
came over different routes, but the hours
of their arrival were not far apart.
General Wood. accompanied by Mrs.
Wood and his secretary. Alexander Con
zales, came by way of New York, having
| arrived there late Tuesday night on the
| steamer NIorro Castle while the Cubans
came by rail from Tampa. General Wood
is stopping at the Richmond. while the
members of the commission are quar-
tered at the Shoreham-
In the Cuban delegation are Gen. Do
mingo Mendez Capote, President of the
commission: Gen. Pegro Il. Betancourt
Gen. Rafael Nj. Portuondo. DR.. Diego
Tamayo, and Dr. Perdo Gonzalez Llo-
rente. They are accompanied by Pedro
NJ. Entenza, Interpreter; Col. Nj. Nj. Co
ronado. editor of La Discusion; Mar
quez Starting, representative of the
United Press of Cuba and correspondent
of ''El Mundo."
General Wood went to the War Depart
ment shortly after 10 o'clock yesterday
morning and after n short talk with Gen
eral Corbin was admitted to Secretary
Roots private office, where he remained
in consultation with the Secretary Of war
for more than three hours. Arrangements
for a conference had previously been
made and there were present besides Sec
retary Root and General Wood senator
PIatt OF Connecticut, the author Of the
Ii
the controversy on Cuban affairs Is he
ing waged; Admiral Bradford, Chief 'f
the Bureau of Equipment of the Navy
Department. and Col. William Cary San
ger the Assistant Secretary of War Inc
entire Cuban situation was thoroughly
canvassed.
Admiral Bradford was called into the
conference for the purpose of eonsuita-
tion upon the subject of naval stations ot
the United States in Cuba, as proposed py
the Platt amendment He has given the
subject much attention, and is Thoroughly
advised as TO requirements of this coun-
try i'm this respect. General Wood went
over the whole matter of the Cuban trou-
bic. and acquainted the officials with the
purposes of the Cuban commission
When the conference ended none of the
conferees would make public the subjects
discussed. it is known. however, that the
question of the right Of the United states
to intervene in matters affecting peace
and war in Cuba were also talked OF, as
well as other relations between the ISL
and and this country. This is very
important matter in the minds of the Gu
bans. and one which is the great STUN
bling block in the way of arriving at an
amicabie solution of the Cuban contro-
off I'M
lations were also considered. The Gu
bans are extremely anxious to secure a
reduction of the duties upon Cuban sugar
and tobacco imported into the United
States This, however, is considered
wholly a matter for Congressional action,
and is secondary to the greater question
OF settling Cubas lNture position toward
the United States.
After the conference with Secretary
Root General Wood, in company with the
Secretary of War, called upon the Presi-
dent at o'clock yesterday afternoon. He
win accompany the delegation to the
White House today and Introduce them
to the President
The Cubans spent the greater portion
of yesterday recuperatiDg from their long
journey. Although several of them speak
English huently. they asked to be ex-
cused from being interviewed upon any
of the important purposes of their mis-
sion. on the ground that it would not be
proper for them to make any public state
ment concerning their visit until after
they had called upon the President and
the Secretary of War. They are men of
intelligence and polished manners, and
created a good impression among all who
saw and talked with them.
depot by DR.. David j. Hill. Assistant
SECRETARY of State; Col. William Cary
Sanger. Assistant Secretary Of War;
Captain Sawtelle. and Lieutenant Over
ton representing the army, who were
designated to welcome them to Wash
inston. The visitors were escorted to the
Shoreham. which viii be their headquar-
ters while they remain here. The length
Of their stay is not fixed. Shortly after
their arrival they received a number of
official callers, who came to pay their
respects. General Wood sent his secre-
tary, MIR. Gonzales to visit them and TO
advise them that he would make an ar
rangement for their reception by the
President. The call was returned later
in the day by Mr.. Tamayo. Yesterday
evening the Cubans held an informal con-
ference and outlined in part a plan of
action, which will govern their move
ments while in Washington, and the
course they will pursue They would not
state last night what decisions were
reached.
1t was arranged yesterday afternoon to
have the members of the delegation pre-
sented to the President at II O'Clock this
morning. They will first go to the War
Department and General Wood will then
escort them to the White House IL is
probable that Secretary Root will also be
a member of the party. While it is said
That very little If anything of a definite
nature can be accomplished as a result
OF the conference with the President vet
1t is confidently expected that good re
suits Will follow from the understanding
of the situation which will doubtless he
reached The talk this morning will be
in regard to public affairs, and this even
ing the President and Mrs. Mckinley will
tender the visitors state dinner AT
which the members OF the Cabinet and
other distinguished persons will be pres
ent.
Mr.. Coronado, whose paper was sup
pressed by General Wood and who was |
placed under arrest, talked freely yestar-
day of Cuban conditions He declares that
General Wood Is persona non grata TO |
many OF the members of the Constitution
al Convention and charges that he has |
caused the trouble in connection with the |
Platt amendment General Portuondo |
ana Senor Llorente are also bitter in their |
denunciation of General Wood. President |
Capote and DR. Tamayo are the conserya- |
tive members of the commission and they |
say they expect much good will result |
from the conference with the President |
Senior Gonzales. Secretary to General |
Wood, discussing conditions in Cuba said |
that commercial relations were of far |
more Importance than politics. and that |
the Cubans looked forward hopefully to |
free trade with the United States To the
sugar planters, he said. this was a coudi-
tion absolutely essential TO prosperity and
scarcely less so TO the tobacco growers