The sun., 1901-04-24
GEN. WOOD ARRIVES HERE.
SAYS CUBiNS DON'T UNDERSTAND
PLATT AMENDMENT.
The Island Tranquil and Prosperous. the Gov
ernor General Reports-He Refuses TO
Reply to Remarks OF Cuban Commissioner

Reply 20 Remarks OF Cuban Commissioner
Portuondo-went On 20 washing on.
Gen Leonard Wood. Governor General Of
Cuba. with his wife arrived last night from
Havana aboard the Ward liner Moro Castle
! and took the midnight train for Washington.
He said he expected to NEE: at the m tional
capital the Ave Commissioners from the Cuban
convention who are on their way 10 Wash
ngton to talk 20 the President about the
Platt amendment
Gen Wood said that Cuba was tranquil
and prosperous. Two years ago the army
was distributing 1000 rations a day TO the
needy now the Cubans were taking care Of
themselves 10 a large extent. There were
$780, pupils enrolled in the public schools
and 1872. coo regular attendants
Lieut. I.ittlebrandt. who recently had made
a tour Of the island. had reported that every
thing was quiet in the interior. No one could
Judge from the condition OF affairs in Havana
what the condition In other parts Of the island
might be any more than one might be able to
tell how things were going on In the United
States by Judging from conditions in New
York. There were only 200 soldiers on the
island and they were in the provinces Of Pinar
del Rio and Puerto Principe
There had been no vote on the Platt amend
ment by the Cuban Constitutional Conven-
ton but there had been vote on subj jects akin
to it, The Cuban people did not understand
the amendment and that was why the COM
mittee had been sent to Washington. Gen.
Wood said he had no doubt that the COM
mittee would return 10 Cuba. satisfied. after
| it had acquired thorough knowledge OF the
Of ln ha
| veniion had not adjourned and had not been
| dissolved. 1t was still in existence and was
awaiting the report Of the co mmittee The
| chief questions in cuba were Of an economic
| nature The tax on sugar hould be re-
| duCed
The report that he had suppressed the news
paper la Discussion Gen. Wood said, was not
true lie had prevented it from going
| through the mails TO other parts OF Cuba
| except Havana because Of a cartoon repre-
senting cuba as Christ crucihed between
| President Mckinley and G'neral Wood.
| The objection to tho cartoon was
more moral than political. The paper circu-
lated freely in Havana.
Gen Wood declined to reply TO the re-
| marks made about him by Gen. Portuondo
| in an interview at Jacksonville.
JACKSONVILLE. Fla, April 80 The Cuban
Commissioners on their way 10 Washingto
while somewhat reticent as to their mission.
are inclined TO show their hostility 20 the
Plat amendment. Gen. Portuondo said in
| conversation to-day;
"Nnety-nine per cent. OF the Cuban people
desire absolute independence. 1t is their wish
that the military occupation by the United
States should come to an end at once 1t
may be that a small element OF Spaniards.
from purely commercial motives--I should
say not over 10, ,ooO-would favor annexation;
but the wish for independence is felt generally
by Cubahs 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 guarantee as to
their property and business interests Peace
with tho Americans without independence
OF Cuba Is impossible. I mean moral peace
| do not mean TO say that in the event that
Independence ~ not granted. war or revolu-
tion would follow. but that there would be no
sympathy no friendliness between the peoples
We should not desire free trade with the
United states II the Independence OF our
country were established. We should require
revenues 10 support our Government. and
We would find IL necessary to raise them by
customs duties What we would wish, though
would be- a specially devised system OF tarir'
duties between tho two countries, making
the rates az low as practicable and to the
mutual advantage OF both countries"
Have sanitary conditions under Gen
Woods administration improved"
Yes. TO some extent they have, but they
have cost the tubans a great deal
What is thought of Gen Wood in Cuba'"
was asked
Gen Wood will make any kind of promise,
but Is not regarded as one who carries those
promises out, was the answer "Go TO Gen
Wood and ask that a road or a street be opened
or cleared. and he answers that the order
will be given at once. This consent he in
variabiy gives and that is usually the last
of II
Gen Portuondo is lawyer by profession.
and a man OF attractive address The com
mission left az 1870 o'clock this morning for
Washington