The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-04-02
crBANs MAY VISIT MKrNLEr.
Special Commission to Be Appointed by
the Constitutional Convention.

NEW YORK. April IA special to
the Tribune from Washington says:
1t is believed in administration cir
cles that within a day or two the Gu
ban constitutional convention viii ap-
point special commission to come to
Washington for the purpose of consult
ing the president and cabinet about
modifying some of the provisions of the
Plat amendment Though the conven-
tion at Havana mas been discussing the
advisability OF this move for about a
week, II was not until yesterday that
official information on the subject
reached Washington
If the visit Is made by the Cubans
Il will have to be done within the next
two weeks. The president and cabi-
net will leave Washington April 90 for
the Pacific coast and will be away
six weeks. II is thought that the
Cuban visitors would want at least a
week or ten days in which to exchange
views with the president and his ad-
visers, so If they desire to take up the
Subject before the summer is well ad-
vanced they will have to e9me here by
the middle of the month.
If the Cubans ask for the elimination
from the Plat amendment of the pro-
visions for naval stations and the right
OF this country to intervene for the
preservation of peace and order. they
Will be disappointed, because the ad-
minlstration has neither the authority
nor the disposition to modify the act
OF congress defining what ought to be
the relations between Cuba and the
United States.
Il is believed however, that the Wis
it OF the Cubans would be productive
Of much good in an educational way.
They could obtain from President Nc
Kinley and others competent to speak
for the government. assurances of this
country's beneficent aims toward Cuba,
ar official guarantee that neither in
SRlill IiNl AAlS@lll sibCS AiiE 1 ltANN o-AaNAAA-
ment contain anything that should be
construed as a veiled purpose to es-
tablsh a prJtectorate over Cuba in the
meaning of that word in the interna-
tiona code. With these assurances and
guarantee the cubans could return
home and calm whatever fear may ex-
list among their people on this score,
even II they should not be able to put
a stop to the political agitation being
stirred UP by the professional politi-
clans who have personal ends to serve.
At the same time it is thought TO be
possible TO subserve the same object
through another device which may
make unnecessary the visit to Washing
ton by a committee Of the constitution
al convention. Considerable literature
for publication in Cuban newspapers
has been sent to the island in the last
few days by high officials at Washing
ton. This literature deals frankly with
the Platt amendment When this liter
ature has been disseminated in Span
ish among all classes of Cubans, it
is confidently believed that it will have
such a quisting effect that the conven-
tion at Havana can with safety to the
political future of its members ratify
the Platt amendment
Still no objection is urged in Wash
ington aglilst rhe proposed visit Of the
Cuban committee and II the convention
decides on this course as now seems
probable, Governor-General Wood may
be instructed TO place an army trans
port at the service OF the committee
selected and the visitors will be treated
with marked official courtesy when they
arrive here.