The Jersey City news., 1906-10-13
MONT QUIT CUBA YET
Not Until Fair Elections Are AS
sured, Taft Tells Former
Rebel Leaders.
LATTER NOT AFTER OFFICES.

Assure American Governor They Are
Not Animated by Personal Ambition,
but Seek to Prevent Return of Old
conditions-Taft and Bacon Receive
Address of Thanks.
Havana, Oct. 13.-The United States,
through its peace commissioners, is not
ready to announce when it will with
draw from the island of Cuba ana sur
render the reins of government to the
Cubans, but this action cannot be taken
until the time arrives when fair cleo
tions are assured
This statement wasNmade by Govern
or Taft as sort of valedictory address
to the reyolutionists' committee, with
which the American commissioners
dealt in inducing the rebels to cease
hostilities and negotiate peace. The
committee had conference lasting an
hour with Governor Taft, Assistant
Secretary of State Bacon and Charles
E. Magoon, Mr.. Taft's successor as
provisional governor, and at its conclu-
sion expressed satisfaction with the
position taken by the provisional gov
eFnment.
Want to Know Our Policy.
J Headed by Alfredo Zayas, the COM
nlittee visited Governor Taft for the
avowed purpose of requesting him to
declare the policy of the United States
toward Cuba and the policy of the
provisional governor concerning ap-
pointments to public Offices. Governor
Taft declared that as the representa-
tive of the United States he was just
as anxious to. surrender governmental
affairs to the Cubans as the Cubans
We're to regain them, but the peace
commissioners We're under the respon-
! sibility to build up conditions which
would make the Cuban government a
stable one
Governor Taft would not predict
when such a satisfactory condition
would be reached, but he said the Gu
bans themselves could hasten that time
if they were disposed to do SO. A fair
and honest election, on the result of
which the Cuban people were willing
to abide, Secretary Taft declared, was
necessary before the United States
would feel justified in withdrawing
from the island
Not After Islands Offices.
Senior Zayas, Carlos Garcia and Jose
Miguel Gomez hastened to assure Gov
ernor Taft that it was not their per
sonal ambition to obtain public Office.
They declared, however, that the in
terests Of their party demanded that
the government should not be contin-
ued in the form against which they
had revolted. Assurances were given
the committee by Mr. Taft that Gov
ernor Magoon would consider com
plants against any official, investigate
them and remove persons found unfit
to hold positions of responsibility OIL
trust, but that capable men with good
records would be retained. The com
mittee informed Governor Taft that
they intended to dissolve at once.
A committee representing many
Americans in Cuba presented Messrs.
Taft and Bacon with an address ex-
pressing appreciation for the services
they had done for all residents of the
island.
Results Please Our ENJOYS.
Responding to the address, Governor
Taft said that he and Mr.. Bacon were
gratiied with the reflection that they
had restrained from applying the
match to the Cuban powder magazine,
thereby undoubtedly saving great
amount of valuable property and
averting bloodshed He declared fur
ther that it would be comforting to
them to know, when possibly the work
done in Cuba would be dealt with by
less merciful critics, that there were
some at least who had approved of
their efforts and conceded that useful
work had been accomplished thereby III
the pacification and progress of Cuba
The disarmament commissioners Sent
to Santa Clara province have returned
here and report to Governor Taft that
they have disarmed and disbanded an
the forces in that province. More than
5000 men have been disbanded, and
thousand rifles surrendered to the pro
visiona1 government have been brought
into Havana.
Reports of trouble in various places
are pouring in, but Governor Taft says
that investigation always shows them
to be not serious