New-York tribune., 1902-01-03
PALMA OUTLINES POLICY.
FAVORS A COMMERCIAL TREATY WITH
UNITED STATES.
APPROVES THE PLATT AMENDMENT
WANTS THE ISLE OF PINEs-ARMY
MAY WAIT FOR PAY.

Central Valley, n. Y. Jan. (SpeciaD-Cable
dispatches and kilograms from his compatrots
and friends congratuating him on his election
TO the Presidency Of Cuba continue to pour in
to General Tomas Estrada Palma The first
message received this morning was from Cen
eral n. Bolet Peraza, ex-Minister of Venezuela
at Washington. 1t read:
Il heartily congratulate you on your triumph
and Cuba on your selection"
The Cuban President-elect is still undecided
about the time of his depa .ture to Cuba He
dislikes to leave his family but is disinclined to
take all his children with him. that would
interfere with their studies He will probably
take his wife and their youngest three children
to Havana and will be joined by the other
three in the summer. He told a correspondent
for The Tribune to-day that he will not go to
Cuba before April. He is TO take Office on
May l.
Now that the election is over and he has been
chosen the head OF the first Cuban inde-
pendent government. General Palma talked more
freely about the policy he will pursue. He said:
In the first place I wish to correct the state
ments that have been made to the effect that
my candidacy was advised by the United States
NGoverhment. and that II elected / would be
under its control OF course, can never forget
the debt this country for helping US
gain our Independence Notwithstanding. I am
first of all Cuban.
Will control me. am free TO act with
out fear or favor. have made no pledges for
the purpose OF gaining Office. The reconstruc-
ton of Cuba will devClre on all Of us We must
gather about the best element Of the country
both Cutans ard the Spanish residents. Cutans
must forget all politica! differences and bear in
mind that we are members Of the same family
with the same interests at stake. We will safe
guard and respect all foreign interests, and our
motto should be. Fairness to An
A commercial treaty with the United States Is
urgent necessity. It should be effected with
out loss Of time. With reduction OF the tariff
on tobacco and sugar. we will be enabled to de-
velop our other industries.
General Palma approves OF the Platt amend
ment and believes 1t TO be to the interest Of
Cuba and her Independence.
Regarding the Isle Of Pines he said:
understand that this island is really of use
to the United States in connection with the
projected inte ~oceanic canal. Anyway, the shall
low waters make it difficult and dangerous for
vessels of large tonnage to touch there On the
other hand. 1t might be an important addition
to the territory Of the Cuban Republic and the
United States might be induced TO give up the
island.
Touching on the financial policy. the general
said he favored most economical government
There will he no useless officials, and the diplo-
matte corps at the start will probably be limited
to a minister at Washington. There will be a
consul general in New York, but at other ports
only consular agents, who will receive small
salaries or perhaps only fees. for their ser
vices.
The question of paying off the Cuban army
for their services during the revolution will be
cne of the most important for the new govern
ment TO deal with. Concerning this, General
Palma said;
While l consider this sacred debt, yet I will
recommend that these patriots wait for their
paw until we have first placed our industries on
a solid footing. l sure that with plenty
Of employment these men will be satisfied to
wait until their country is sufficiently strong
financially to spare this money 1t would hardly
be good policy 10 pay out, say, Sl,OOO,OOO from
loan that might negotiate, for then we
would not have enough left properly to build up
the island from its present condition of ruin.