Evening star., 1901-04-30

-.
SURE OF INDEPENDENCE
GENERAL PoRTUONDo SPEAKS FOR
CUBAN COMMISSION.
Stumbling Block Removed by the Con-
ference With President
Mckinley. -

Mckinley.
The New York Trbtfne of today saws:
From a statement made yesterday by Cen
eral Rafael Portuondo, one of the five Gu
ban commissioners now in this CITY, much
of the mystery which has surrounded the
mission of the delegation to this country is
dissipated. The commissioners have since
their arrival here maintained the closest
secrecy regarding their conferences with
President Mckinley and other high officers
at Washington. and they have heretofore
met all questions as to what MESA ge they
are taking back to their countryrnen with
evasive answers.
When pressed for a statement, however.
yesterday afternoon, General Portuondo at
last said:
"A great stumbling block has been re-
moved. That is all l care to say"
What stumbling block do you mean,
senor?' was asked.
Section three of the Platt amendment"
was the answer. Then, after some delib-
Grafton, he added:
Let me tell you, that you will un-
derstand." Here the Cuban paused a mo-
ment as if revolving some weighty aues-
tion in his mind Then he continued:
Afraid of Our Armies.
''The Cubans have been afraid of your
armies. They fear~what some call impe-
ralism. Now in section three 1 think of
the Platt amendment it is provided that
the United States may send troops into
Cuba whenever in the opinion of Washing
ton such action is necessary This Droyi-
sion awakened widespread suspicion Many
said that it was only pretext for the
United States to continue standing army
in Cuba for all time. The presence of sol
diers, and especially those of another peo-
I,ln h,1f hE +, 81,
ing to u.s.
Others said that although the United
States might withdraw her forces now she
could, under this provision Immediately
send them back again. This, then, was a
stumbling block. 1t was perhaps magni-
fed in the eyes of the common people, and
they demanded that if these suspicious
were well founded such a measure should
not receive our sanction
But President Mckinley soon assured us
that these suspicious We're groundless
When we said that by this provision the
United States had more jurisdiction over
Cuba than over any one of it's own states
because in the latter case l understand the
national government cannot send troops
into a state without the permission of the
state government, he said:
Gentlemen, you need have no fear.
Troops will not be sent into Cuba unless
conditions are little less than anarchy
THE Presidents answer so convinced us
that we could not but be impressed with
his sincerity"
How do the Cubans feel in regard to
Independence" was asked.
Cubans Want Independence.
'Ninety-nine per cent of our people," the
general answered. want independence.
They will not even listen to annexation.
They want independence, absolute indepen-
dence. Now, 1 do, notTmean that the Gu
ban people are not -disposed to give the
Americans everything ehat they, the Amer
leans, will need for their own defense l
tell you that if the Question of indepen-
dence is settled and an differences on the
subject are eliminated, everything else can
be arranged"
What do you mean by independence?
Does not each state OF the United States
have independence" the reporte asked
BY independence | mean sovereignty
We want to regulate our own internation-
al affairs. But our preferences will be for
America, to help and support her in case
OF need" Z. ...st !
.Were there not many other questions
embodied in the Platt amendment which
you discussed with the President?'
Yes. There are many things in the
Platt amendment which we came here to
learn about; but these will be arranged
later" -. ~. y.
How about the selection and granting
of coaling stations?" -
LAS to thesseI cannot say. Such qties-
tions will be left to the constitutional con-
vention at Havana"
Are you sure, then, that the United
States will grant Cuba its desired inde-
pehdence?"
Sure of His Position.
Yes, | am sure. And / believe that
Washington will soon announce to the
world that Cuba is a sovereign power, and
that Cuba will indeed be a nation by Feb
ruary "a, 1902
What recommendations will you make to
the convention on your return?"
That is to be determined on our way
home from this port. We will, of course
report what have learned. 1 do not
know how the others feel exactly, but as
for myself | shall urge the convention to
accept the Platt amendment
The commissioners spent the most of
their time yesterday in each going his in
dividual way. Three of them were guests
of General Brooke for luncheon at Cover
nors Island. Later conference was
called at their rooms, in the Fifth Avenue
Hotel, where all five commissioners re-
ceived 7. Estrada Palma, the head Of the
Cuban junta in this city during the war.
Before the meeting had ended report
current that the commissioners had
asked General Palma if he would accept
the presidency Of the new republic