Show FOR CUBAN FREEDOM ien Gen Woodford Denies He Demanded the Islands Island's Independence dependence NEW YORK YORE Feb 6 A A copy of ex- ex Senator Chandlers Chandler's article reviewing the diplomatic incidents which pre- pre 1 d he spaniSh er caI was was sh shown t to d Gao Ste. L Minister ex to Spain and after r reading it he he said It t is true r I never never dem demanded in independence in- in dependence dependence- I It would have hav resulted in my being ordered away within twenty- twenty four four hours houth and would have precipitated precipitated the war sooner sooner than it came I Ineve never neve had any instructions to demand demand independence The The- only thing looking to it was a suggestion of the President President dent for my own guidance I answered that the Independence of ot Cuba was under the Spanish Constitution impossible Im- Im possible without prior sanction of or the Cortes which was not then in session and would not meet for a a. month Thereafter Thereafter Thereafter There There- after my instructions looked to an anai ai armistice mist ice As to the purchase the thing never jas was was' in the way suggested tome to tome tome me by the Administration I did suggest suggest suggest sug sug- gest having clearly in my mind the question of independence or of cession cession ces ces- sion slon- by sale an armistice during the rainy season It is much easier three years afterward and coolly looking over the records in a ar n comfortable study to say what might have been beel done or 01 what ought to have been done |