The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-03-27

It seems to be generally understood that
Senior Gonzales de Quesada. prominent
here as z member Of the Cuban Junta be-
fore the war with Spain. and identified
since as a leading member Of the Cuban
Constitutional Convention. Will be the first
Cuban Minister 20 Washington
Mr.. Quesada has been here with Gen
eral Wood and President Palma for the
past four days. and in conference with
them the greater part OF the time. Since
the war with Spain he has been special
Cuban commissioner. and did much TO
stem the tide OF anti-American feeling
which prevailed in the convention during
the discussion Of the Platt amendment.
Our Minister to Cuba.
The United States viii send a Minister
TO Cuba, having all the powers Of pIeni-
potentiary to any other country Of eo-al
rank The President will shortly send
message TO Congress recommending the
creation OF the Office with salary Of
1880 year. together with a provision
for SIX consular officers with the same
salaries that the officials holding the
places when Cuba was a Spanish COLONY
Many applications for the consuIates have
ALREADY been received a the state Depart
ment.
The establishment Of naval stations and
coal depots in Cuba will not be accom-
pHshed as easily as the officials of Tho
Navy Department had expected II is
seriously questioned now il the Cubsp
Government viii agree 10 a treaty allow
ing this country 20 maintain station
ioT repair work on large ships. with an
immense dock as auxiliary TO the laciIi-
ties, at Havana.
Havana Naval Station.
President Palma has indicated his oppo-
sition to ceding the necessary site for a
station al Havana He stated before leav-
ing mere. however. that the new Govern
meDt would agree 10 the establishment Of
naval station at Guantnamo Bay. forty
miles 10 the east Of Santiago. where there
is an excellent harbor.
Havana is the point where the navy viii
INSIST that the station be located and IL
me United States is unable 10 secure CON
ceSsicns for one there. il is doubtful II
Inc experts will recommend any great
outlay OF money for creating a station at
some other port.
ADMIRAL r B. Bradford now on
cruise in Cuban waters for the purpose of
investigating the sites most desirable to
the navy has urged strongly that Havana
De selected, and he points out the advan-
tages II has over all other ports for the
largest outlying naval station the navy
should maintain.
Almost Indispensable in War.
In time OF war, he says, Havana would
from strategical standpoint be almost
indispensable as a rendezvous for our
ships operating IN the West Indies or
Southern waters. Guantanamo Bav. he
argues, is too far to the east end OF
Cuba For these reasons he urges that
the United States insist on Cuba cedfng
site al Havana.
The Administration is inclined to recop-
nize the right Of Cuba 70 refuse to con
oede any site that the new Government
may not wish to grant, and Will probably
oeieF 10 the wishes OF President Palma
ana locate cOaling station at Iris
cornla, across the bay from Havana. and
ne naval station at Guantanamo Bay
Entitled to Six
Under the terms OF the PIatt amend
ment this country is entitled 10 six sta
lions and coal depots at points in Cuba.
and on the return OF Admiral Bradford
who is now IN Cuban waters. a board viii
De appointed TO determine the places.
Those selected viii be the subject later
OF treaty agreement between the two
nations
The coaling stations viii be distributed
so that at no point in Cuba will they be
more than 400 or 500 miles apart Guam
tanamo Bay was used by the naval forces
under Admiral Sampson during the war
with Spain for eOaling ships and was the
scene OF a fight between the marine bat
talon and Spanish forces before the army
arrived II affords the best harbor on the
couth coast OF Cuba, and is about the only
one in which large ships can enter with
out danger.
Santiago Is Barred.
Santiago is regarded as having a chan
mel too narrow and tortuous 10 admit OF
the safe handling Of bsttleship. and for
this reason there is no probability OF its
selection as a coal depot Some point
on the western end OF the island, near
which ships would approach in sailing 70
enter a canal across the isthmus, will be
selected for a coal depot, and another will
be established at Matsnzas or Manzanillo