Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-03-10
The CUBAN
CONCESSIONS
These Granted by Spain We're
All Revoked.
LETTER FROM GEN. BUTLER
His Opinion of the Foraker Amend.
ment--ThinkS the President
Should Have Full Power.

New York, March 1O.-Major General
NJ. c. Butler, one of the three CuDan
evacuation commissioners, has written
a letter to John c. Calhoun of this city,
in replying to an inquiry from Mr.. CAL
houn as to what would be the status OF
Americans seeking trade concessions in
Cuba. General Buffers letter, when Is
dated Washington, March s, is as fol-
lows:
"All I know about concessions is that
among the last instructions sent to the
evacuation commissioners in Cuba were
instructions to have every concession
granted by the Spanish authorities altef
the beginning of the protocol on the
18th of August, cancelled or suspended.
We Immediately addressed a
cation to the Spanish commission, ana
General Castellanes, who succeeded Gen
eral Blanco as captain general. Informed
them of the presidents instructions.
General Castellanes promptly issued d
decree carrying out the presidents
wishes, and thus ended a number OF So
called concessions.
IF others lave come into existence
since the evacuation commission lett ha-
| vana on the 18th of January last, | have
| no knowledge of them. l am Inclined to
think however, that they exist largely,
if not entirely, in the eXcitable magma
tion of some persons who occasionally
allow themselves to be dashed into a
fine frenzy over imaginary things for
want of something better to do. l do
know that the president and the secre-
tary of war a v set their faces stead
tasty against the granting of any con-
Cessions by anybody or to anybody until
they can be thoroughly examined and
scrutinized by impartial tribunals.
II have no idea that any concessions
- T,,lo rrtlJ 1N zen y,nfinr,nH hyr tho 1h-
ministration, unless it can be made to ap-
pear that it would be in the interest of
the people of that island and for the
promotion of their business and pros
perity. Something will V to be done
to encourage the Introduction of CAPT.
tai and business enterprise, if its marvel
Gus richness of the island is to be de-
velcped. No fears need be entertained
that capital, always timid, is going to be
dumped into Cuba recklessly or lndlS-
~criminately. Before it goes, it must have
the assurance Of protection and stabll-
ity, and l think We are bound to do
everything possible to give that aSsur-
ance. Resolutions by congress won't do
it, and the best thing that could befall
the Cuban people would be to have con-
gress keep it's hands off and leave the
president to adopt such measures as will
best promote their interests. If we may
judge by the past, he can safely be trust
ed in their behalf.
you ask me about the Foraker amend
ment to the sundry civil bill recently
adopted by congress. With such lnfor-
nation as / have, l do not think that
such a provision of law was necessary,
and I ann unable to foresee it's effect, fur
Their than it may increase the distruSt al
ready existing in the minds of capitalists
as to the advisability and prudence OF
making investments in the sland. In
one breath we are told that the United
States forces ought to be withdrawn and
leave the Cubans to work out their own
destiny, and in the next we have a prop
osition from congress-, showing a want OF
confidence in their ability to take care Cd
themselves.
Every concession granted, if any
should be, must necessarily be subject
to the affirmance or revocation by amy
further government permanently estab.
lished there, but whatever can be done
by the president, secretary of war oil
anybody else to encourage the develop
ment of the VI of Cuba and ait
the people in getting on their feet agar
ought to be done and done promptly.
Il have no right to speak for the presi
dent and the secretary of war, but
must say without improperly that they
both realize the gravity of the respon'
sibility which rests upon them. An ac'
curate knowledge of the methods of con
Quoting matters in the island %justlfies me
in aging they may be safely trusted tC
do nothing except what will rebound tC
the best interests of the people of Cuba
There may have been and may hereafter
be errors of judgment, but the best Of us
are liable to make mistakes. The one
thing needful in Cuba is the introduction
of American methods Of transactins
business and an opening made for Amer.
lean enterprise and capital, relief from
Spanish monOpolieS imposed for the ben.
eft of the Spanish, not the Cuban people
and the president and the secretary Of
war ought not to be hanlpered in theil
; efforts along these lines.
Il shall rejoice to see the day when tht
} oppressed and impoverished people Oh
Cuba are we'll advanced on the road tC
prosperity and wealth. They will adop1
sound business methods, from whatever
source they may come, and l believe viii
secure protection and safety to all wht
! may CO.. The president, the secretary Of
war and the United States officials or
that island will aid in every proper way
to sustain them. OF this am confident
you may rest assured. If the sundry civil
bill, as amended by the Foraker amend
ment, is to have the effect which l car
scarcely believe, of putting a stop tC
the development of the island during its
military occupation by the United States
forces, then the military occupation viii
be a curse instead of a benefit, and the
sooner it is ended the better"
Steov,.kip COrop,uy Vpcorporotod