New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-20
A FALSEHOOD, SAYS PALMA
No Cuban Bonds GiUen Azcay TO did
in Bringing on Var.

T. Estrada Palma President of Cuba, in a
special cable dispatch to The Tribune indig-
nantly denies the story that he had, before the
Spanish-American War, distributed Cuban
bonds to the amount of S2,OOOOOO among people
of influence here who helped bring on the war
Here is President PaImas message:
FROM THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT. HAVANA.
To The Tribune
The recent publication concerning the Cuban bonds
issued during the revolutionary was made without
knowledge authority.
desire to add that not a single bond was given by
me to any person whatever United states.
cept Tor received. and that given to
any connected with branch of the American
Government. Any such insinuation is an insult not
only TO the United States, which In the cause OF oey
and humanity did SO much for Cuba but also to me
personally. L. ESTRADA PALMA
According to the dispatches from Havana
which told of "Cuba's paying S2oOOOOO for her
Independence" the news of such action had
leaked out in pamphlet printed for free distri-
button at the St. Louis Fair. The pamphlet
was written in both the Spanish and English
languages, and was prepared by the Cuban
commissioners to the exposition for the purpose
of showing how Cuba came to be free, and the
various steps by which her liberty obtained.
IL also gave other information concerning the
island and was TO be used sort OF souvenir
or memorial
The part of the pamphlet which was said to
have caused the leak dealt with the work of
the Junta and it's issue of S2.9IO.6Oo worth
of Cuban bonds in lS96-'91 1t also said that
Tomas Estrada Palma the President OF
the Cuban Republic who was then the Cuoan
delegate to this country entered into COM
pact" with certain persons whereby they
should work for Cuban independence In pay
ment he gave them bonds worth S2.OOO.OOO.
That part of the pamphle- which dealt with
this subject was follows;
Bv virtue of the powers granted the then
embryo Republic of Cuba by the Constitutional
Assembly of 1890. Tomas Estrada Palma was ap-
nonted delegate plenipotentary to represent the
government in a form and condition that he
deemed most advisable. The honesty, integrity
and patriotism with which the Cuban delegate
carried through the onerous mission is shown
bv the following brief account:
AT the beginning of the year 1895 9O4I bonds
were printed in two lots. with a nominal value
of 81 91OtO0 These bonds, as a result of the
favor with which the Cuban cause was looked
unon i'm the United States. were sold some at
par some with greater or less discount, While
others were given in payment Tor services rem
and posi.ion presented to the delegate project
for the securing for Cuba OF Independence, and
with the authorization of the Cuban government
said delegate entered into compact with those
parties giving as a security a large part OF the
atove mentioned bonds.
AS q result OF this negotiation important work
was done for the Cuban cause, and the delegate.
10 cover the obligation thus contracted. dellV-
cred in May. 1898. with the approval of the
Cuban council of government, bonds TO the value
OF 81 oppttD in payment.
The Havana dispatches also said that when
the "blunder'' of such revelation" was real
lied the Cuban government ordered the PAM
phlet suppressed. and called in all the copies
which ii could reach with the request. please
return by first mail"