The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-04-30

Washington, April 27.-The Cuban
delegation completed it's labors in
Washington today. In the morning
the delegates met Secretary Root. who
escorted them to the White house,
where they had a final and decisive
talk with the president. Then they
paid visits of courtesy to each of the
officials whom they have met, and fl
nally they started for New York at IL
o'clock tonight, homeward bound. They
will sail for Havana Wednesday.
The proceedings at the White house
were interesting and important. Senior
Capote acted as spokesman for the del
egatiOn. He thanked the president for
the many courtesies shown them, which
they accepted as an expression of good
will to the Cuban people. He invited
the president to visit Cuba, to see for
himself the conditions in the islands
and learn from contact with the in
habitants of the love and affection
which the Cubans have for the United
States and their appreciation of what
had been done for them by this govern
ment in their struggle for freedom.
Senor Capote asked the president to
do something for the Cubans upon an
economic line, especially in the matter
of reciprocal trade relations. He said
that it was especially desirable to have
something of this kind done before the
next crop was harvested in order that
the Cubans might realize the advant-
fn Of aInC
economic relations with the United
States.
In reply the president said it was i'm
possible to settle economic questions
until the political questions were dis
posed of. He told the delegates to
first form their government and then
they would be in a position to enter
into negotiations with the United
States as to trade relations.
Senior Capote responded that some
thing ought to be done while the Gu
ban government was forming. He
thought that while the United States
was exercising control there might be
arrangements perfected similar to those
under contemplation by the secretary
of was in 1898 when the government
first passed under control of the Unit
Aed States. He told the president that
the Cuban republic did not wish to be
born In poverty and rags and if it
could not be wealthy it would at least
prefer to have something with which
to support itself and to have it's peo-
pie in prosperous conditions or with
prosperous conditions Immediately be-
fore them.
The president again reverted to the
fact that under the present conditions
as the secretary of war had advised
them, he did not see how it was possi-
to settle any economic questions be-
fore the Cuban government was form
ed. He would appoint commissioners
Immediately a government was organ
lied to negotiate with similar commits
Honers from the Cuban government
for reciprocal trade relations and he
believed that the United States would
be ready to deal in a manner which
would be beneficial to both countries.
He thanked the delegation for the invf-
tation to visit the island and told them
to assure the Cuban people OF his
friendly interest in them and his desire
to see them contented and prosperous
Delegates then shook hands with the
president and departed.
General Capote later said to an AS
sociated Press reporter:
I'VE have concluded our business
here. We have had two interviews
with the president and four with the
secretary of war, during which all mat
ters that we came here to discuss have
~ had the fullest and most minute con-
sideration. We came to consider the
relations between Cuba and the United
States, and these, both political ano
economical, have had the most careful
attention. We return to Cuba and viii
- deliver to the constitutional conven-
ton all the information we have OBJ
tained, information which is highly i'm
portant and interesting"
There has been a mutual understand
ing between the parties to the confer
ences that have been held that nc
specific statement as to results should
be given out on either side in advance