New-York tribune., 1902-04-17
ESTRADA PALMA'S PLANS
FIRST MESSAGE TO CUBAN CONGRESS
OUTLINED-FRIENDSH FOX lhh
UNITED STATES.

Washington. April 16.-Tomas Estrada Paifi'a,
President-elect of the Cuban Repuphc' pasSeu
through Washington this afternoon on his way
TO Cuba. He will visit number OF CUBAN cilieS
and towns going first to Gibara. thence to Hol-
guin and his native town, Bayamo. From there
the President-elect will proceed to Manzanllo
and Santiago and go TO Havana about May %.
He is suffering from cold which mace taih-
ing serious strain. and his health apparently
is far from perfect. His first important acts, as
the President of the republic he announced
to-day, Will be the formation of a CABINET anu
the sending of a message to the Cuban Congress
He already has selected several persons to Whofh
he will tender Cabinet portfolios but he refused
to make his selections public, explaining that ne
wanted to give the matter full consideration
after he reaches Cuba and to announce the cab
met simultaneously. One appointment. he sd-
Initted. was practically decided-that of Gonzalo
de Ouesada who represented the Cubans here
in the period preceding the Spanish American
War, to be Minister TO the United States. he
said he had understanding as to who would
represent this government at Havana. but added
that he hoped a of broad judgment. who
had in view the most cordial relations between
the two countries, would be selected.
The first message of the head of the republic
to the Cuban Congress will be submitted mme-
ures will be recommendations along the follow
ing lines:
First-AIl possible measures calculated TO
unite the various political factions or Cuba, SO
that all elements will work together in the IN
terest of the new government
Second-The development of the natural re-
sources Of the country with reciprocal tariff re-
lations with the United States.
Ihird-The maintenance of the most friendly
relations with the United States Government
CUBAN RECIPROCITY PLAN.
General Palma said that the United States
dollar would continue TO be the standard in
Cuba but the currency and other questions
were matters that required mature deliberation
and need not be Immediately lesislated upon.
He said that he hoped to secure substantial re-
duction in the tariff on sugar, tobacco and other
Cuban products. The Cuban Government would
act entirely on a reciprocal basis in making re-
ductions on United States products. and what
ever action was taken at Washington along this
line would be followed to the same extent by the
Havana Government. This subject presented
the most difficult problem among those he fore
saw.
In response TO a question. he said that the
Cuban Government would not establish such
reciprocal commercial relations with any olher
government than that Of the United states. ne
said his efforts would be concentrated on restor-
ing his country to its condition before the raw
ages Of war devastated it He did not look Tor
any serious difficulty confusion consequent
rpon the change of rule. most OF the ofnces
were now administered by Cubans
The President-elect. while waiting Tor MS
train to proceed. received official notice from
Postmaster General Payne that the agreements
reached between them in a recent conference
had been framed as arranged, and had been for-
yyarded TO him through Governor General WOOD
These agreements in the form OF orders, TO
he issued separately by the Postmaster CIenerai
of the United States. with the approval or Pfesl-
dent Roosevelt and by the President OF cuba
They are drawn up in duplicate and simply
agree as was said when the conference was
held 10 continue the present postal ana money
order arrangements between the United states
and Cuba until permanent convention mas
heen signed. 1t has also been agreed that, II IL
can he done properly. the present military au-
thorities in control in Cuba shall order a sum
Gent amount of postal supplies of all kinds 70
meet the needs of the Cuban Government untll
August / these supplies TO be settled for by the
Cuban Government in the same manner as the
nrasent accounts Of the postal service there are
now adjusted. ,
Accommodating the President-elect, besides X
A G Smith of New York, the president of the
American Mail Steamship Company. who will
go only part Of the way. are the following Gu
hans who will remain on the island with him:
lose his son: Gonzalo de Quesada, r. Mar
ganas NJ Morales. r. Sierra, NJ. Gonzales and
Manuel Ros.