The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-07-27
HOME RULE TOR CDBANS
President Mckinley Plans to With
draw American Forces from
the Island Shortly.
CHANCE FOR AN INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC
Conditions Insuring Peace and Hon.
est Government Must Be Agreed
To-AII Rests with the Natives
If Their Constitution Satisfies Con-
gress Uncle Sam Will Step Aside.

Washington, July 21.-Cuba is likely
to become nominally an independent
republic, with certain reservations
that will virtually make the island a
self-governing colony of the United
States, within six or eight months
from this date.
These are the plans formed by Pres
ident Mckinley and the cabinet during
the past few days, when the president
and his advisers had opportunity to
consult with Gov. Gen. Wood concern
ing the future of the island.
Date for Election.
September Is had been decided upon
as the date for holding an election in
Cuba for delegates to the convention
that is to be called for the purpose
of making constitution for the re-
public. 1t is expected that the con-
vention will be called to sit in Ha-
vana about the middle of October.
Depends on the Constitution.
AS to whether or not the United
States is to withdraw from Cuba at
an early date, much depends upon the
sort of constitution which this con-
vention may think it wise to adopt.
If it adopts a constitution which, in
the opinion of the administration or
of congress, insures the carrying out
of the pledge given by the United
| States to see that a stable govern
| ment is established in Cuba, and the
establishment of stable government
| follows, the United States will retire
during the coming winter or early
in the spring and turn the control of
| the island over to the Cuban people.
Conditions Required.
The significant part of the pro-
gramme lies in the conditions which
the administration is disposed to in
sist upon in the new constitution.
While sovereignty is to be nominally
vested in the Cuban people, and the
republic is, in name at least, to be free
and Independent, there are certain
reservations which the United States,
in case congress upholds the pres
ident, will insist upon. These are:
l. The foreign relations of Cuba to be
managed through the American govern
| ment at Washington.
2 Cuba to have no power to declare
war without the consent of the United
| States.
g. The United States government to
| have veto power over legislation in
| creasing the Cuban debt beyond GER
| tain limits to be set forth In the new
| constitution.
A. The United States to have certain
well-def1ned supervision over the Cuban
| treasury.
5. The United States to retain for a
period of years, if not definitely, con-
| troll of the Notifications which COM
mand the port of Havana and other i'm
portant cities of the republic.
American Suzerainty.
Gen. Wood says the more intelligent
people of Cuba are thoroughly con-
WINGED that some sort of American
suzerainty over the new republic is
imperative for their good, and the
chief difficulty anticipated lies with
men of the professional political
stripe. But these are likely to be APP
peased by chance to control all the
official patronage of the new govern
ment.
| NomfnalIy a Republic.
The general idea of the administra-
ton and of the property-holding and
most influential classes of Cuba is to
try local self-government as sort
of ward or colony of the United
States, subject to wholesome re-
straints, and if that works well grad
ually to assume status more closely
approximating true independence.
| In other words. Cuba should, for a
| time at least, become nominally re-
| public, but really self-governing
American colony, occupying relations
| to the United States similar to those
sustained by Canada or Australia or
| New Zealand to Great Britain.