The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-05-15
LAST WORDS TO CUBANS
lhe Delegates Have a Decisive Talk
With President Mckinley.
TRADE RELATIONS DISCUSSED

LaborS-They Make flnal fioa Eoh
Reciprocity - The President Promises
to Appoint q Commission as Soon
.s the Government Is Organized.
Washington. D. C.-The Cuban dele
ration completed its labors in Wash
incton on Saturday. In the morning
the delegates met Secretary Root,
Who escorted them to the White House,
where they had a final and decisive
talk with President Mckinley. Then
thew paid a visit Of courtesy to all the
officials whom they have met. and
finally they started for New York City,
homeward bound.
The proceedings at the White House
we're interesting and important. Senior
Capote acted as spokesman for the del
ecation. He thanked the President
for the many courtesies shown them,
which they accepted as expressions OF
good will to the Cuban people. He In
vited the President to visit Cuba, to
see for himself the conditions in the
island, and learn from contact with
the inhabitants of the love and afec-
ton which the Cubans have for the
United States, and their appreciation
of what has been done for them by
this Government in their struggle for
freedom.
Senor Capote asked the President to
10 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
something of this kind done before the
next crop was harvested, in order that
the Cubans might realize the advan-
tages to them of closer political and
economic relations with the United
States.
In reply the President said 1t was
impossible to settle the economic ques-
tions until the political questions were
disposed Of. He told the delegates to
first form their Government, and then
they would be in position to enter
into negotiations with the United
States as to trade relations.
Senor Capote responded that some
thing ought to be done while the Gu
ban Government was forming. He
thought that, while the United States
was exercising control, there might be
arrangements perfected similar to
those under contemplation by the Sec
retary of War in 1898, when the Gov
ernment first passed under control Of
the United States. He told the Presi-
dent 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 it's
people in prosperous conditions, or
with prosperous conditions before
them.
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 pos
sible to settle any economic questions
before the Cuban Government was
formed. He would appoint Commis-
sioners Immediately after q Govern
ment was organized to negotiate with
similar Commissioners from the Cuban
Government for reciprocal trade rela-
tions, 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 dele
cation for the invitation to visit the
island, and told them to assure the
Cuban people Of his friendly interest
in them ana his desire to see them
contented and prosperous.
Senor Capote later said to 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 that 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 political
and economical, have had the most
careful attention. We return to Cuba,
and will deliver to the Constitutional
Convention all the information we
have obtained, information which is
highly important and interesting"
General Wood had an hours talk
with the President before his depar-
ture. He did not care to speak for
publication or give his opinion of the
result Of the visit Of the Cuban Com
mission.
There is general impression among
those who have been in close touch
with the Cuban delegates that they
will recommend the acceptance of the
Platt amendment by the Constitution
al Convention when they return to
Havana. Secretary Root has made it
plain to them that the amendment is
the United States policy.