Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-02-16
PRESIDENTS L ! POLICY. !.
IN REGARD 10 CUBA
American Protectorate for at Least
Ten Years, With Local Self
Government,
EARLY WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS
Small Garrisens to Be Left i'm the
tsland.-.$2O, 900, 900 Loan to
Cubans, Guaranteed
by Customs.

New York, Feb. 16.-Thc Havana
correspondent of the Herald suys:
was given today an outline OF the
policy President Mckinley will pursue
toward the Cubans. my authority be-
ing gentleman Of national reputa-
ton. who is now making his second
visit to the island rs the personal rep
resentative of the president.
This plan. which will be laid before
Gomez, and which it Ii believed he will
approve, is first to determine the ex-
act amount necessary to liauidate all
the outstanding obligations of the
provisional government, including the
pay of the army and the civil authori-
ties. 1t is now believed that not more
than $2O,Ooo,0o0 will be required. TO
rafse~ei1ts amount Cuban bonds, with
an American guarantee, will be issued,
the Cubans first binding themselves
to contract no other Indebtedness
without first securing the consent of
the congress of the United States.
American officers will administer
the custom houses of the islands and
have general superintendent of all
taxation. Consular affairs will be en-
tircly intrusted to the United sstatts;'
but in all other affairs the island will
be free and independent.
The bonds to be issued will mature
i'll ten or twenty, years, at the option
of the Cuban government, which may
rid itself entirely of American inter-
ference by paying this debt.
This plan means an American pro-
tectoratc over Cuba for at least ten
years, by which time the island will
have demonstrated it's ability to gov
ern itself, or will be more than willing
to attach itself permanently to the
United States. The first great benefit
OF this scheme will be the protection
to foreign capital which will pour into
the island in great volume for invest
ment.
That President Mckinley plans the
early withdrawal of all American
troops from Cuba became known here
yesterday. 1t was welcome news, 1,arA
ticularly to the regulars, who had sup
posed they would remain in the island
several years.
Colonel Pearson, of the Tenth regi-
mcnt, told ME last night that he had
the best of authority for the assertion
that only small garrisons would re-
main in Cuba, unless the unforeseen
should happen.
Small Garrisons to BE Left.
Washington, Feb. 16.--American
troops will be withdrawn from Cuba,
beginning next month.
Just as soon as report is received
from Major General Brooke regarding
the number of men to be retained in
each of the departments for the pur-
pose of assisting the Cubans in main
tanning order, instructions will be sent
directing the return of all regiments
that are not actually needed.
In reducing the number of troops in
Cuba the administration has double
purpose; first, to give the Cubans an
opportunity to demonstrate that they
can govern themselves; second, to save
the American troops from the dangers
of rainy season in the island.
The Cubans have asserted from the
outset that they could maintain order
and during the rainy season they will
have a chance to show what they can
Ito. If they succeed the American
forces in Cuba will be gradually with
drawn.
This arrangement is in fultillment of
Il promise made to the late General
Garcia and is really the beginning of
the settlement OF the Cuban question
by the establishment of an indcpend-
ent goya rnment