A pair of spectroscopically nearly identical M supergiant stars were proposed [1] as possible counterparts toSGR&hthinsp;1900+14based on positional coincidences with gamma-ray and x-ray localizations. Whether these stars or the nearby fading radio source [9] are associated withSGR&hthinsp;1900+14is not yet clear. We obtained I- and J-band photometric observations of the M stars with 10 to 120 second time resolution obtained on 16 nights before and during the active phase ofSGR&hthinsp;1900+14beginning in June 1998. Despite more than 54,000 seconds of integration time, no observations were obtained within an hour of a gamma-ray burst event. No short term variability was found for any object within the ROSAT error circle toI⩽24.5,although an unrelated eclipsing binary was discovered just outside the ROSAT circle. PSF subtraction of the bright M stars reveals a previously hidden compact star cluster. ©2000 American Institute of Physics.