New-York tribune., 1919-05-09
Our Cuban Minister
Ne,o York Trioun.
FOrefon press p,,

at appears that in all social classea
movement has been initiated against Mr.
William Gonzalez, United States Minister
in Cuba. Initiated is perhaps not tn.
right word; the situation is much mor.
acute to-day. The minister has enteraa
Cuba under bad constellation. To begin
with, the group calling itself society did
not receive him with favor. 1t was mat.
| ter of slight errors to social customs
of minor antiquities revealing his recent
entry into the diplomatic service and hi,
extended residence in provincial towns.
Society forgives anything except trans
gressions of this order.
"However, the unfavorable impression
was being attenuated by a group of men
to which the present writer prides him.
self to belong The minister demonstrates
in all his utterances such love of Cuba
such affection for the Cuban people, that
it appeared to us unjust to found sympa-
thies on matters OF minor Importance. On
the other hand, the minister seemed to
comprehend, to an extent, that it was
necessary for him to adapt himself to the
requirements of the situation, and thus
he assisted US in our errand.
In Domestic QuarreIs
"We do not believe that we accomplished
our object completely, Mr.. Gonzalez
never became genuinely popular in the
fashionable world, in spite of the fact
that, later ON, the President of our re-
public conspicuously favored him both in
the drawing rooms and in clubs.
"When the revolution broke out in
February, the minister deemed it neces-
sary to extend his sphere of action.
Presently he established relations between
| himself and the public. From this hard
trial he issued with difficulty. The public
| did not seem to be pleased with his atti-
tude. 1t appeared to everybody that there
! was some sort of original sin about it;
that he identifying himself excessively
| with our domestic quarrels, emerged as
| partisan, probably against his own will;
| that instead Of serving the President with
| good counsel in moments when passion
was about to get the better of the latter,
Mr.. Gonzalez served him in an inverse
sense, inspiring him with the belief that
| any act of his, however violent and IL
legal it may be, was going to be backed
by the most powerful nation in the world.
The public thought that Mr.. Gonzalez had
traversed the distance which always ought
to separate the head of the state and
minister of a foreign power, to the extent
that he came to be dominated by Cen
eral Menocal and advised his own govern
ment in accordance with General Memo
calls desires. In the end he became one
of that group of General Menocaps friends
who actually govern this republic.
"The crisis passed, but the rancor per-
sisted. The political simplemindedness Of
the masses established a profound connec-
tion between General Menocal and Minister
Gonzalez. The government appeared to be
in the hands Of the two men, and the mis-
takes of the former reflected upon the
The Camp Of Partisanship
"To-day the general impression seems to
be that the advices transmitted by Mr..
Gonzalez to his government about the hap
penings in Cuba colored by certain
equivocations. There be no doubt as
to his good faith and disinterestedness,
but he was animated by q sentiment Of
friendship which led him, involuntarily,
into the camp of partisanshp. By
and by, quite unconsciously, he became
Cuban instead of being the citizen repre-
sentative of the United States.
"This is why his advices, without alter
ing the truth, did rot convey the whole
truth; this is how he became the strong
est support Of a political situation in
which power was usurped; this is why he,
assuming the attitude of a friend, ap-
ef
the President.
"The original mistake caused all the
rest.
"And to-day the adverse comment of all
is raining down upon his head. He who
might have achieved great fame in our
midst has become the target of abuses, and
will go down in our history as the mere
exponent of one Of our administrations.
"We sympathize with him.
"The great nation deserves to be repre-
sented in Cuba by one who views with the
greatest impartiality our problems, by
who does not condescend to our internal
quarrels, by one who through his attitude
becomes loved and respected equally by
all.
"a plebiscite, held to ascertain the love
of this people toward the American Union,
would show that the percentage of those
favorably minded has slightly decreased
since Mr.. Gonzalez stays in Cuba
General Crowder, that great specialist
in recruiting and census taking that ex-
pert in methods of grouping men, could
easily handle such plebiscte."