The age-herald., 1901-04-26
In Return Delegation Expresses Gratitude for Assistance
BUSINESS WAS WITH SECRETARY
No Matters of importance Were Dis cussed With the President-Gen-
 eral Wood Is Keeping Con-
 stantly in Sight of Cubans.

Washington, April 25.-The Cuban dele gation from the convention framing a constitution for new island republic, saw President Mckinley twice today, once in the early part of the day when there were introductions and formal exchange of expressions of friendship between the United States and Cuba, and again at night when the members of the delega- tion were the guests of honor at state dinner at the White House. The real bu- siness which brought the delegation here was transacted with Secretary Root at the War Department, the President in the forenoon in an interview at the White House saying to the delegates that he would confer with the Secretary who would act as his representative in confer ences over the Cuban situation. The delegation and Secretary Root were closeted for some hours in the afternoon in a discussion of the relations of the islands to the United States. Secrecy was observed. the statement being made that after results were reached some news might be made public.
 Business Not Discussed.
 Matters of importance were not touched in the interview between the President and the delegation. the conversation being almost wholly formal. Senor Capote in his address to the President spoke of the desire of the Cubans to have the closest possible relations with the United States. He said that the United States soldiers and Cubans had fought side by side and driven Spain from the island and the ties between the two countries were bound in blood. The relationship, therefore, be- tween the countries always should be most amicable and closer than that which usually exists between nations. He also spoke of the gratitude which Cuba felt to the United States for the assistance rendered in her liberation.
 In response the President expressed his pleasure at meeting the delegation and desired through them to extend his kind est wishes to the people of the island. He said that his interest in Cuba all ways had been very great and he made reference to messages he had sent to Con- gress concerning the island. Its welfare always would be the subject of his most earnest consideration. He congratulated the members of the delegation upon being members of the Cuban constitutional con yention He said it was high honor and it fell to the lot of but few men to have the opportunity to frame government for republic.
 State Dinner Given.
 The members of the constitutional com mittee were entertained at state dinner given in their honor by the President at iybt War set for forty-seven. The guests included the President and members of his cabi- net (except the Secretary of the Navy; the secretary to the President; Dr. Ca pote, president of the Cuban constitu- tional convention Dr. Tamayo, secretary of state and government; Justice Ilorente as justice of the Supreme Court of Cuba; Governor Belancourt, civil governor of the province of Matanzas; General. Por-. tuondo. fiscal of the audencia of Santia- 20 de Cuba; Gen. Leonard Wood, Govern or Allen, Justice Harlan, Justice White, Senator Platt of Colorado Senators Nor gan, Foraker, Hanna. Lodge, Depew, Cockrell, Daniel, Fairbanks, Burrows, Wetmore, Willard, Dietrich. Representa- lives Grosvenor. Hepburn, H. A. Cooper. Burton Moody. Adams, the assistant secretary of war Hon. William Chan dler, Lieutenant- General Miles, General Corbin, Gen s. B. M. Young, Colonel Bingham, Lieutenant-Colonel Edwards, Admiral Bradford, MT. Entensa. MT. Con zales.
 Business With Secretary.
 The most important meeting of the day was a conference in Secretary Roots of- flee lasting from 3 until 6 o'clock in the afternoon Those present were the five Cuban delegates their interpreter, Sec retary Root. General Wood, Assistant Secretary of War Sanger. Senor Gonzales, General Woods secretary, who acted as interpreter a great portion of the time. When the meeting adjourned no official abatement was made as to the proceedings biit 1t can be said that the result was considered satisfactory both by the Cu- bans and Secretary Root. The business was not completed and the conference will reassemble tomorrow afternoon.
 It was made plain to the Cubans by Secretary Root that no modification of the Platt amendment could be made by the executive department of the govern ment and the Cubans themselves under stand that there is little possibility of Confessional action In that direction, so the conference was devoted largely to the construction which could be placed upon the amendment. The law states that the propositions contained in the amendment shall be Substantially agreed to by the Cubans and the discussion revolved chiefly around what will be considered .substantiaP' agreement to the Platt amendment. Requirements. There was some yery3 lime legal sparrinS between