Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-12
PALMA IS INDIGNANT
4 Scathing Reply to Secretary
Roots Pro-Annexa
tion.Letter.

(By George Eugene Bryson; Special Ca
BILE to the Dispatch.)
HAVANA, CUBA, September n.-El
Mundo, the principal newspaper organ of
the Cuban Nationalist, or military party,
headed by General Maxine Gomez, in an
editorial leader to-day gives publicity and
great Importance to a recent communion
ton received by the President of Cuba
by registered mail and under "confiden-
tiaIs cover from Hon. Elihu Root, and
two other Representatives of the money
kings Of the United States; who upon
behalf of the National League for the
Promotion of Continental Union, in
vites the Cuban Executive to cooperate
with them. with view to bringing the
Island of Cuba into the Union, as State
Of the coming great con tin entail republic
to include the Dominion of Canada Mexi-
co, several States of Central and South
America, and the West Indian Islands,
in a single political confederation for the
common veal and mutual defense of in
terests Of the New World, as-the United
States of America.
Whilst pun porting to be proposition
or organization entirely friendly toward
Cuba, the circular wars them that, as
matter of fact, they must not expect
too much from the present Republican
reason that, while President Roosevelt is
Cuba's friend. and wholly sincere in his
efforts to induce Congress to grant re-
ciprocal trade relations to the island. in
order that her sugar and other products
may be assured a ready market, he has
not been able to count upon, and can
hardly hope to command the approval of
his Cuban programme by majority of
the coming Congress-; and advises the
President of Cuba to prepare his people
for "the principal act of the play" By
telling them in plain words that, in order
to enjoy the benefits of the United States
markets, Cuba must become sovereign
State of the Union, admitted upon petit
ton of her own insular Congress and
people.
President Palma, Ell Mundo states, is
thorough indgnant-consequent he has
made no attempt to hold the subject
matter of the circular as CONFIDENTIAL
and has written the distinguished mem
bers of the committee, whose names are
appended to the communication men
toned, that Cuba. as a matter of per-
sonal gratitude, due the Rough Rider hero
OF San Juan Hill, considers it to be her
duty to support his personal propaganda
to further the interests of reciprocity, so
long us the Washington Executive may
require such a demonstration of conf
dence from the people of the new Cuban
republic he so much helped to free and
put upon its feet as an independent ma
ton.
Further than this, the youngest of all
the American republics should be the
last to enter a continental federation;
and as a matter of nodesty, Cuba will do
no more than follow In the wake Of her
elder sister and chosen protector, in this
as in other matters affecting the common
interests of the States Of the New World,
provided, in all cases, that the sovereign
ty of the island be in nowise affected,
nor it's independence Of action in home
affairs in any manner threatened"
Eel Mundo," in closing It's article upon
the incident, subjects Secretary-of -Waf
Root to scathing criticism for having
Joined with "other trust representatives"
In sending out the imperialistic circular
mentioned without having first resigned
from Roosevelt's Cabinet