The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-20
TAFT HEARS THE CUBAN CASE
LISTENS no PRESIDENT PALMA
AND REBELS REPRESENTATIVE.
Latter Demands Release % Political Prise
sners before Formal Vegetables ARG
Opened-Anyericans Begin Their work
Soon After Arrival 90 Havana.

Ope0ed-Anreficame Begin Tn0ar WORK
Soon After Arrival 80 Havana
Special CaOIs DsspafeA 10 the sun.
HAVANA, Sept. lS.-Secretary Of War
fait and Acting Secretary OF state Bacon
lost no time after their arrival here In
starting an investigation OF the Cuban
situation. The commissioners visited Presi-
dent Palma: with whom they conversed
an hour. Mr.. Taft informed the Presidenf
that he proposed to hear both sides; too
which Senor Palma aoquiesced.
On leaving the palace Mr.. Taft saw thsT
Liberal party commission. including Ssna.N
tor Zayas. on board the Denver He therSN
went to Minister Morgan's house at MARI
anao. where he was visited by q Mod erateT
commission. composed Of vioe-President
Capote and Sehor Bespaigne. Collector OF
the Customs at Havana. He then saw SenofN
Zayas again and then a comm ission OF vets
Grams consisting OF Gems. Menocal and 3,
Agramonte. A
The American commissioners were busy
the whole afternoon. After Gen. Menocal
left Mr.. Taft said he did not purpose to tell
| Jno DLtSs WudJ hdA OOSuiAVu ~ eHO NV
view, as statements by him when published
might be liable to misinterpretation, which
might make his task a difficult one. He
added that he came to help the Cubans ou1A
Of their difficulties. d.
The cruiser Des Moines got in from
Tampa this morning with Secretaries TAN
and Bacon and Minister Morgan aboard.
No guns saluted the cruisers arrival, as herr
departure had been so recent.
The first man to go on board and report
to Secretary Taft was Commander Colweu
Of the cruiser Denver, who has playedj unSt
officially, an important role in the lasSt
few days in trying to bring the warTtn9s
Cubans to an understanding. At 8 o'clock
Juan Francisco O'Farril, Secretary Of StateI
went on board the Des Moines; with two
OF President Palma's aides. Mr.. SleeperJ
American Charge d'Anaires; accompanied
Senior 0'Farrill.
Senor O'Parrfl conferred with Messrs.
Taft and Bacon for about thirty minutes.
After the interview he said innanswer to
inquiries that he had been very much
pleased, but he refused TO say more. It is
understood that Mr.. Taft questioned Sehor
O'Farrill fully and that the latter explained
Presidents Palma's point OF view; laying
stress on the fact that the President was
the more popular Of the candidates in tho
Presidential e~lectionI on account OF his
long service In the Cuban cause. The con-
ference this morning; however; was nos
formal, but a mere affair Of courtesy.
When Secretary OFarrfl left the Des
Moines a salute Of seventeen guns was
fred in his honor. Secretary Taft's
party landed at 10 o'clock and another
salute was fred. Large crowds awaited
- 49, IL. o-A n,.ksfda thu MALAGA
Secretary Taft; Assistant Secretary Bacon
and Minister Morgan called on President
Palma. The interview lasted more than
an hour.
President Palma served champagne to-
the party and friendly toasts were drunk
to the United States and the happiness OF
Cuba.
When Secretary Taft and Assistant Secre-
tary Bacon left the palace they went ON
board the Denver, where the commissions
ers from the Liberal party, including SEN
ators Zayas, Pierra, Sarrail and Modarsey
were waiting for them. Senator Zayas ex-
planned the situation from the revolution
lists point Of view. In the course Of a few
hours Secretary Taft had heard full state
ments from men on both sides. Besides
the Liberal party Senator Zayas repre-
sents the revolutionists in the field
Il Senator Zayas called at the palace at 8
o'clock this afternoon and insisted ener-
g~etically upon the release OF the political
prisoners. Secretary Montalvo informed
him that they were under the jurisdiction
Of the courts of Justice.
Senator Zayastold The SUN correspondent
that he would ask Secretary Taft to suggest
to President Palma hat the prisoners, who
include Jose Miguel Gomez, former candi-
date for the Presidency, be released. Senior
Zayas considers that the attitude Of the Cow
eminent shows bad faith. He has asked
for the release of the prisoners four times.
He will refuse to negotiate while the men
are in prison. He saysthat to keep in prison
such men as Gomez, Castillo and Garcia is an
act Of open violence.
Persons in close sympathy with the
revolutionary movement point out that the
position Of Senator Zayas, who is recognized
as the leading figure in the Liberal revolu-
tionary party, does not make him the
arbiter OF. the situation, as although tbs
Havana rebels and the Liberal party made
him their representative they have also
circumscribed his powers by accepting the
programme of the revolution, which de-
mands new elections.
1t is presumed that Senior Zayas indi-
vidually might be disposed TO agree to q
compromise on a less e~xactlng basis than
that proposed by the rebel leaders, but
these may refuse to recognize him II he
oversteps his strictly limited powers.
After seeing Mr.. Taft Senior Zayas would
only say that he had stated the Liberals
case to him..
Sehor Capote said that Mr.. Taft's ideals
were very noble. He was a great man
and he was not losing any time.
!, 1t is understood that Mr.. Taft expects
, the matter will tahe q longer time TO settle
than he anticipated.
The Discussion states that the interview
, between the commissioners and Presidents
Palma was very cordial. Mrs Taft reiter-
ated the terms OF President Roosevelt's
letter and sxpressedthe hope that a lasting
, peace would be established. The paper
adds that the commissioners questioned
Senor Palma - 70 tho origin Of the dis
|. pute and asked him II any of the demands
i Of the rebels affected him personally.