The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-23
TEE ANNEXATION OF CUBA
Favored by the Senate Committee
Which Visited the Island.
Result of an Investigation of PO-
IiticnI and Industrial Conditions
Plan of Legislation - Assurances
of Peace by General Gomez.

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 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
subcommittee 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 il 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 it: because the conservative Cubans
it, because the tobacco raisers want it,
and in short, because everybody interest
ed in the commercial prosperity and ma
terial development of Cuba admits that
the island must become Il part of the
United States.
independence is to precede annexation,
of course, the Senators say, but they
learned enough during the brief time they
were seeking information, and they sought
it diligently, to 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 plan of
legislation on which the independence Of
Cuba is to be based. but in a general way
the idea is that at first the island will be
granted some kind CT 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
uation at times and make this Government
responsible for legislation that it might
like to repudiate. Without the veto power.
1T 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 a
hand in.
There is one matter in particular that
the Senate committee has very decided
opinions about, and which will not be over
looked, whatever legislation is enacted.
This is that the United States must have
power at the start TO stop debt-making,
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 never see the light
of day. and some that will be published
must be taken with large grains OF allow
ance. because it is. known that many of the
witnesses who appeared before the com
mittec admitted that their testimony was
given for publication and that thsy had
other views which they took the liberty
of reserying for the private use OF the
committeeman. Some Of ths witnesses eX-
pressed their opinions freely and frankly
dUu gave NEt CbUlMltltt tN4uE4 CT lndl
VIII 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 other things, gave the assurance
that there would be no more war on the
island of Cuba unless it should he brought
about by others than the Cuban people.
The members OF the committee believe
that Governor General Wood has carried
out a wise, conciliating policy and ore
that will bear good fruit. They think
that his appointment Of prominent Cubsrs
TO Office, and the payment TO them of good
salaries will be justified by the results.
1t was necessary, the members of the
committee think, to p!acste the Cuban
leaders in this way, and in their minds
the importance of the places held by the
Cubans is more apparent than real They
have titles and salaries but no wide aU-
thority, and whatever they do is subject
at-all times to the approval OF General
Wood