Evening star., 1901-02-27
VIEWS OF GOMEZ ON CUBA.
General Thinks American Suzeranit,
is Il Necessity

is u Necessity.
A dispatch from Havana yesterday says:
General Gomez visited Governor General
wood this morning and assured him that
the stories of unrest and dissatisfaction at
the continuance of the United States inter-
Vention were false, and that he had been
m1srepresented in statements to the effect
that he favored an immediate withdrawal
OF the United States troops and giving Cuba
absolute independence. If they withdrew
now he feared bloodshed, beyond doubt
Within sixty days the Cubans would be
fighting among themselves. General Co
mez added:
"lf the Americans were to withdraw to-
DAY would go with Them
General Gomez said he recognized the
fact that the United States was RESPONSE
Die for the establishment of a stable gov
ernment in Cuba, and could not withdraw
unul such condition was brought about
The work of handing over the reins Of gov
ernment to the new republic was an un-
dertaking involving much time and labor
and large amount Of study and expe-
rience on the part of Cubans in the work
Of self-government.
The general also said the element in con-
troll of the municipalities was not working
in the interest of the island. The officials
were inexperienced and could not be given
a free hand 1t would mean the destruc-
ton and ruination of the island.
General Wood said the greatest difficulty
experienced was in getting the conserva-
tive element interested in municipal gov
ernments. His purpose was to bring the
best element to the front The coming
municipal elections would pave the way
for the elections to be held under the cleo
toral law being drawn up by the conven-
tion
General Gomez had no objection to the
outline of the future relations between the
United States and Cuba as recommended
hyy he y1ofa of he Init
thought, however, that 1t would be better
for the United States to lease land for
naval stations instead Of purchasing out
right.
The convention will discuss the proposed
relations in secret session. 1t Is under
stood that a large majority Of the dele
gates are still unwilling to admit the right
of the United States to Intervene In Cuba
in times Of peace or to establish naval sta
tions.
After a discussion of several hours the
convention adopted one article defining the
proposed relations, namely, that Cuba
would not make treaties with any country
which would endanger the sovereignty OF
the republic or allow the island to be made
a base of war operations against the United
States or any other country.
The last four words. 'or any other coun-
try were added after warm debate
The advocates of this clause maintained
that Cuba should remain neutral, as war
carried on in the island would only result
in the ruin Of it's agricultural interests,
which had already suffered greatly and
had not yet fully recovered.
Senior Giberga said that, in accepting the
scheme Of relations outlined by the United
States. they would be adopting the only
guarantees of peace in the island and OF
keeping of other nations desirous or max
ing Cuba a base of operations.
Most Of the delegates openly declare that
the dispatches from the United States pur-
porting to set forth the idea Of the Sen