Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1901-05-02
THE CUBANS IN NEW YORK.
The Cuban Delegation to Washing
ton Shown the Sights of the
Great Metropolis.
MISUNDERSTANDING CLEARED AWAY.
Gen. Portuondo Says the Cubnns
Were Suspicious of the Plat
Amendment Because They Did
Not Fully Understand It-Doubted
the Motive Behind 1t.

New York, April 29.-"Even annexa.
tion might be acceptable to Cuba if il
came after independence" said DR.
Rafael NJ. Portuondo, one of the mem
bers of the delegation from the Gu
ban national convention to Washing
ton. For fifty years she has longed
and fought and bled for independ-
ence. That once attained she would
agree to any fair demands the Unit
ed States could make
Gratified with the outcome of their
mission, the delegation, which has
been in conference with President
| Mckinley and Secretary of War Root,
! have arrived in New York. In the
party are Gen. Portuondo, Gen. p.
! Bctancourt, DR.. Pedro Gonzales Llo-
rente. DIR. Diego Tamapo and DR..
Mendcz Capote, the president of the
convention.
Robert 4. Smith, president of the
American Mail Steamship Co., acted
as host to the party, and under his
chaperonage some idea of the parks
and surroundings of the city was
gathered by the visitors. After par
taking of a Cuban breakfast, Sunday
at noon with Mr.. and Mrs. Ricardo
Nargarnes, of No. 1j7 West Eighty
sixth street, the party was taken in
four electric automobiles for a trip
along Fifth avenue, through Central
park and up to the Sacred Heart con-
vent, in One Hundred and Thirty
third street. The visitors were enter
tanned at dinner at Sherry's at night
by Mr.. Robert A. c. Smith, president
of the American Mail Steamship Co.
The commissioners paid a visit to the
stock and produce exchanges Monday
and will sail for home on Wednesday
on the Ward line steamship Havana.
Gen. Portuondo was eloquent in his
expressions of satisfaction with the
result of the mission to Washington.
There was misunderstanding"
he said, 'and now, for us at least, it
has all been cleared. The trouble was
with the Platt amendment. Many of
the Cubans suspected it. They did
not know what it meant. They
doubted the motive that lay behind
it. Not that they thought it might
be unfair to Cuba only, but to the
United States.
"The explanation given to us at
Washington is plain and dispels our
doubts. None of us can now question
the honesty or impugn the fair-mind-
edneSs of the senate. To be sure,
there are terms about the amend
mcnt which can not be adopted, but
think great deal has been accom-
plished."
Asked how long it would take to es-
tablish Cuban government, Gen.
Portuondo replied:
Not less than ten months. There
must be conventions and elections be-
fore the electoral council, which
chooses n president, is selected. That
will all take time, and l think we shall !
feel satisfied if our government is set
in motion by February "a of next
year. That, you know, is our Fourth |
of July, the anniversary of our rise !
against Spain.
sour electoral body will be made |
up equally of representatives from |
the professional men, the wealthy |
citizens and provincial assemblies. !
The president must be a native Gu
ban or one who has fought ten years
for Cuban independence. 4 senator
must be a native, but representative
may be native or a naturalized citi-
zen"