Porter’s Commission to Cuba
Robert P. Porter's commission to Cuba has evidently been a successful one. It was for the purpose of facilitating the disbandment of the Cuban army. Commissioner Porter carried with him authority to negotiate, as the government's representative, with General Gomez, the commander of the Cuban army. The latter, on behalf of the Cuban soldiers, has accepted the offer of $3,000,000 as part pay for their services, and the actual work of mustering out the Cuban troops will soon begin. The $3,000,000 will be repaid to the United States from the customs receipts of Cuban ports. There is considerable agitation among American statesmen in favor of withdrawing the troops from the island as speedily as the circumstances will permit, in order that there may be as little delay as possible in placing upon the Cubans themselves the responsibilities of their own governing.