Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-26
A MINISTER TO CUBA
Congress to Be Asked for the
Necessary Authority.
PLANNING THE FUTURE
GONZALEZ QUEsADA 70 REPRE-.
SENT THE ISLAND.
Coaling and Naval Stations to B~
Selected-General Wood to
Leave Tonight.
PLANNING THE FUTURE

1t is the present understanding that Con-
zalez de Quesada will be the first minister
from Cuba to the United States lie ac-
companied President Palma from New York
to Washington on his recent visit and was
party to the conferences that took place
at the White House and the War Depart
ment respecting the arrangements for the
evacuation of Cuba.
Senor Quesada first came to Washington
as secretary to the Cuban junta. headed by
Estrada Palma, during the early days OF
the last Cuban rebellion against SPAIN and
was very active in the interests OF the in
surrectionary government. After the SPAN
ish-American war he was made a special
Cuban commissioner by Secretary Root, and
he also prepared and installed the Gu
ban exhibit at the Paris exposition. He
was after that member Of the recent Gu
ban constitutional convention, and did much
to stem the tide of anti-American feeling
which prevailed for brief period among
a considerable element in the convention.
A Minister to Cuba.
The United States diplomatic representa-
tive TO Cuba will be 'full-fedged minister,
and not a commissioner President Roose-
welt is about to send a message to Congress
to secure legislative authority for the ap-
pointment of such minister. as well as
ioh tAic man hODSh 1lIllcu clditS CoHSulS
who must be appointed. There are no less
than 200 applications on file for these con-
su1ates already, and the sending OF the
Presidents message on the subject is ex-
pected to vastly increase this number The
President has not yet indca ted the person
he Will name as United States minister to
Cuba; but in view of the fact that this Off.
cial must plunge at once into the difficult
task of negotiating fabric of treaties with
the new republic it is expected that the
choice will fall upon some one not alto
gether lacking in diplomatic experience.
The choice will certainly not fall upon an
army or naval officer In the present state
of mind of the executive The presumption
is that the salary attached to the office
will be In the neighborhood of $3.50 per an
mum, a sum proportionate 10 the salaries
paid to United States ministers in coun-
tries corresponding in population to Cuba.
Naval and Coaling Stations.
Preliminary steps have already been
taken by the United States government to
locate the naval and coaling stations which,
by the terms of the Plat amendment are
to be ceded by treaty to the United States
Rear Admiral Bradford chief of the equip-
ment bureau of the Navy Department has
given special attention to the subject and
for the last two weeks has been cruising in
West Indian waters, particularly directing
his attention to Cuban ports. Yesterday he
arrived at Guantanamo bay, a magnificent
harbor about forty miles east of Santiago
on the southern shore, and it is believed
that there will be located the principal if
not the only, United States naval station in
Cuba. The harbor is capable of easy de-
tense against any enemy, and the health
conditions are better than in Santiago.
There is also more anchorage room 1t was
at Guantanamo bay that the first United
States forces were landed on Cuban soil,
in the shape of marines under Captain Nc
Gala.
Will Defer to Cuban Wish.
The Cuhans do not want a naval station
at Havana proper, and the United States
government is willing to defer to the Gu
ban national pride in that respect But one
of the coaling stations-without defenses
and so entirely different from a naval sta
tion-will be located in RSvana harbor
probably at Triscornia, just across the bay
from Havana and connected by rail with
the principal railway system Here are fair
dockage for the largest ships, smooth water
and a supply of coal already on hand be-
longing to the United States navy.
General Wood Leaves Tonight.
General Wood was very busy at lie War
Department today closing up the details OF
the plans of evacuation. He saw the Presi-
dent few minutes this morning He is
preparing to leave Washington tonight and
will reach Havana Saturday. He said that
he would at once begin to take steps to
carry out the orders of Secretary Root pre-
paratory to the United States withdrawing
from Cuba.