The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-28
CUBANS MUST WAIT
ORGANIZE GOVERNMENT FIRST,
SAID PRESIDENT.
CAN NEGOTIATE AFTERWARDS,
TBE DELEGATION LEAVES FOR
NEW york.

Plea for Trade Concessions Before
Departure - The President Puts
Them OF with Pleasant Words.
Matters Fully Discussed and the
Party Returns with Highly Inn
pOrtGnt Information, Says Gen.
CapOtc-WOOd Leaves for Florida.
Washington, April 27.-The Cuban dele
cation completed it's labors in Washing
ton to-day. In the morning the delegates
met Secretary Root, who escorted them
to the White House, where they had
final talk with the President, and then
they paid visits of courtesy to each of the
officials whom they have met, and finally
they started for New York at II O'Clock
tonight homeward bound. They will sail
for Havana Wednesday. The proceedings
at the White House were interesting and
important.
Senor Capote acted as spokesman for the
delegation. 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 him
self the conditions in the islands and learn
from contact with the inhabitants of the
love and affection the Cubans have for the
United States and their appreciation Of
what has been done for them by this gov
ernment in their struggle for freedom.
Senior 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 some
thing of this kind done before the next
crop was harvested, in order that the Gu
bans might realize the advantages to them
of closer political and 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 disposed of
He tod 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.
They Ask Economic FavOrs.
Senor Capote responded that something
ought to be done while the Cuban govern
ment 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 War in 1898, when the
government first passed under control of
the United 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 its people in
prosperous conditions or with prosperous
conditions Immediately before them.
Mckinley COuIdn't See 1t.
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 possible to set
tie any economic questions before the Gu
ban government was formed He would
appoint commissioners Immediately a gov
ernment was organized to negotiate with
similar commissioners 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 invitation
to visit the island and told them to as
sure the Cuban people Of his friendly in
terest in them and his desire to see them
contented and prosperous.
Senior Capote. speaking to Secretary
Root, expressed the hope that in the in
tervieWs that he had been having, that
he had said nothing, In his earnestness
and argument, which was in any way
offensive The Secretary replied that on
the contrary he highly appreciated the
arguments of Senor Capote and his
knowledge of the questions had increased
his admiration and respect for the legal
abilities and keeness OF the Cuban peo-
pie.
The delegation then shook hands with
the President and departed
Highly important Information.
Gen. Capote later said to an Associated
Press reporter:
1--WE have concluded our business here.
We have had two interviews with the
President and four with the Secretary of
War, during which all matters we came
here to discuss have had the fullest and
most minute consideration. We came to
consider the relations between Cuba and
the United States and, these both poliu- !
cal and economical. have had the most
careful attention. We return to Cuba and
will deliver to the constitutional conVen-
ton all the information We have obtained |
information which is highly important and
interesting"
Gen. Capote spoke in high terms Of Sec !
retary Root lie said that the questions |
were OF national Importance, and that the |
conferences were conducted with the care /
thst the serious matters under considera-
ton demanded.
Gen. Wood also left tonight for Flor I
ida. whence he viii sail for cuba. Mrs. |
Wood. who came on with the governor /
general 10 visit her sister. who was for |
nerlv Miss Condit Smith. whom she had /
not seen since the latter's experience in /
Pekin. during the seige there. returned 4
with her husband.
con Wood had an hours talk with the /
President to-day before his departure. He /
did not care TO speak for publication Of /
lis opinion OF the result Of the visit OF /
the cuban Commission.
Nothing 10 Be Given out.
There has been a mutual understand I
ing between enc parties OF the conference I
that have been held tnat no specific state /
mont AS 10 the results should be- given 1
out ON either slide in advance Of tine COM |
missions report 10 the constitutional con- /
.v,ntlon. There are many political Jeal- /
ousies among tho Cubans 80 home and 4
abroad and Gen. wood said that anything /
made puolle at thls time might be- liable (
=, construction and lead go friction. +
geu Wood however. does not hesitate 10 1
.tata ,hat tho CuLanH have been Impressed 4
ritb ihe treatment they have received /
90 the attentions shown them. ana 10 T
80 that undoubtedly they return .
~-fb more correct understanding 1
~ tbs meaning u ihe terms 81 the Plat 4
-. nfmsnf and 81 the sinorre desire of /
-. $1,000 FaFafnfnfnf 40 nuf Cuba nn