The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-23

When the members Of the Senate sub
committee on Relations with Cuba re-
turned recently from their flying trip Of
investigation to the island they made pub
lie through Senator Platt Of Connecticut
Chairman Of the committee a perfunctory
statement Of their impressions Of what
they had seen and heard. In a general
way. also. they gave their views as to the
political and Industrial future Of the ISL
and. The opinions of the Senators thus
expressed. however, were for public con
sumption only. and much Of what they
think Of Cuban conditions generally was
reserved for future use.
II is evident that each member Of the
sub committee is convinced that ultimate
Iy Cuba must be annexed TO the United
States. How soon annexation Will come
about they do not know. but none Of them
denies that it is the inevitable logic OF
the situation. The only hope for CONNER
cial Cuba, they say, is in annexation TO
the United States. AS one member Of the
committee put it. annexation must come
because the Spanish residents Of the island
want il: because the conservative Cuhans
want it. because the sugar planters want
it; because the tobacco raisers want 1t,
and in short. because everybody interest
ed in the commercial prosperity and ma
terial development Of Cuba admits that
the island must become a part Of the
United States.
Independence is to preCede annexation.
OF course. the Senator's say. but they
learned enough during the brief time they
were seeking information, and they sought
IL diligently 20 convince them that what
ever form Of independence is granted TO
the Cubans it must be sustained and up
held by the Army Of the United States.
For a long time to come United States
troops must be back Of Cuban authority,
for the members Of the Senate Committee
believe that in no other way are the Gu
BAGS prepared 10 maintain a government
of their own.
The committee has not so far as can be
learned taken steps to outline a plan OF
legislation on which the independence Of
Cuba is to be based. but in a general way
the idea is that at first she island viii be
granted some kind Of legislative assembly,
with the veto power reserved to the
United States Anything short of this. it
is thought would result in placing the
United States in a most embarrassing sit
uafion at times and make this Government
responsible for legislation that it might
like TO repudiate. without the veto power,
It is pointed out, the Cuban Legislature
might make a treaty which the United
States would be morally responsible to up
hold and carry out. or the Cuban leaders
might bring on a race war which the
United States would have to take
hand in.
There is one matter in particular that
the Senate committee has very decided
opinions about and which viii not BE- over
looked. whatever legislation is enacted
This is that the United States must have
power at the start 70 stop debt-makinE
and it is to be stated as plainly as the
English language can state it in whatever
legislation is enacted that the United
States is not to be held responsible for
The payment Of Spanish bonds or Cuban
bonds either. for that matter.
a large part of the testimony taken
by the committee viii rcver see the light
Of day. and some that will be published
must be taken with large grains OF sliox-
auce. because it is. known that many Cf the
Witnesses who appeared before the con-
mittec admitted that their testimony was
given for publication and that thay had
other views which they took the liberty
Of reservirg for the private use Of tie
committeeman. Some OF "a wifue ses ey-
pressed their opinions freely and frankly
and gave the committee evde-ce that
wiz be Of great value. General Gomez
fer instance. told the committee every
thing he knew about present conditions
ami the possibilities of the future and
among ether things gave the assurance
that there would be no more war or the
island of Cuba unless it should Re brought
about by others than the Cuban people.
The members OF the committee believe
that Governor General Wood has carr.Cd
out a wise. c0rciliaurg policy and ore
that will bear good fruit They think
that his appointment Of prominent Cubsrs
10 Office. and the payment 10 them OF good
salaries viii be justified by the results.
1t was necessary. the members OF the
committee think 10 p'acsta The Cuban
leaders in this way. and iu their minds
the importance Of the places held by the
Cubaus is more apparent than real The-
have titles and salaries. tUt no wide aU-
thority and whatever they do is sutjec,
at all times TO the approval OF General
Wood