The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-27
WHAT MEANS THIS !?
STRANGE STATEMENTS TO GEN.
WOOD DY GEN. GOMEZ.
NO TIME FOR WITHDRAWAL.
CUBA NOT READY TO GOVERN HER
SELF YET.

Tells Gen. Wood That He Has Been
Misrepresented, and That stories
Circulated About Him Were I'm
true-Ef Troops should withdraw
Now BIOodShed Would Follow.
Would Mean Ruin and Destruction
of the Island.
Havana, Feb. 26.-Gen. Gomez visited
Gov. Gen. Wood this morning and assur-
ed him that the stories of unrest and dis
satisfaction at the continuance OF the
United States Intervention were false
and that he had been m'srepresented in
statements to the effect that he favored
an immediate withdrawal of the United
States troops and giving Cuba absolute
independence. IL they withdrew now he
feared bloodshed. beyond doubt. Within
sixty days the Cubans would he fighting
among themselves. Gen. Genes added
IF the Americans were to withdraw to-
day I would go with them"
Gen. Gomez said he recognized the fact
that the United States was responsible for
the establishment of sable government
In Cuba and could not withdraw until such
condition were brought about. The WORK
of handing over the reins of government
to the new republic was an undertaking
involving much time and labor and
large amount Of study and experience on
the part OF the Cubans In the work OF
sef-government. The General also said
tho element in control Of the municipali-
ties was not working. in the interest OF the
island The officials were inexperienced
and could not be given a free hand II
would mean the destruction and ruin Of
the island.
Gen. Wood said the greatest difficulty
experienced was in getting the conserva-
tive element interested in municipal gov
ernmonts 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
electoral law being drawn up by the con-
vention.
Gen. Gomez had no objection to the out
line Of future relations between the Unit
ed States and Cuba as recommended by
the United States Senate He thought,
however. that 1t would be better for the
United States to lease land for naval sta
tons, instead OF purchasing outright.
After discussion OF several hours the
convention adopted one article dennin.
the proposed relations. namely THAI Gu
Da would not make treaties with any
country which would eudanger the SOW
ereignty Of the republic or allow the ISL
GHd to be made a base of war operations
against the United States or any other
country.
The last four words, "or any other
country" were added after warm de-
bate. The advocates of this clause main
tanned that Cuba should remain neutral
as war carried on in the island would
only result IN the ruin of its agricultural
interests, which had already suffered
greatly and had not yet fully recovered.
Senor 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 off other nations desirous
of making Cuba a base of operations.
Most of tho del gates openly declare
that the d sratches frcm the United
States purDortug to set forth the idea of
the Senate are fake tel grs ms sent to
influence the convention. Those who
take this view decare that the United
States Congr IS viii not support Presi-
dent Mckinley in putting forward a
scheme of relations not sati factory to the
. constitutional convention In any event
they say their belief will not be shaken
until Congress acts otherwise.
The convention held another secret ses-
sion this evening and tho discussion will
be continued tomorrow.