Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-20
TWO REPORTS TO BE MADE
CUBAN COMMITTEE RkpoRTs TODAY
ON pLATniAMHNDMEsr.
Majority Favor' ferftait n Notifications
The Minority Report il Rather
More COnservntfye

dispatch from Havana last night saws:
The committee onyrelatibns of the Cuban
constitutional convention will submit mi
norty and majority reports to the conven-
ton tomorrow. The majority report, in an
Introduction, quotes article l of the treaty
of Paris. the joint resolution of the United
States Congress- and the Plat amendment,
and then proceeds as follows:
"Inasmuch as Secretary Root, being au-
thorized by President Mckinley, saws that
the Plat law has for it's object the guar
anteeing of the independence of Cuba, and
does not mean interference with it's gov
eminent or the exercise of protectorate
or of sovereignty, and also that interven-
ton will only take place when independ-
ence is endangered by outside powers or
grave interior disturbances, creating an
archy; and. inasmuch as Secretary Root
has said that the naval stations will not
be used for vantage points of intervention,
but only to protect Cuba against foreign
powers, we report as follows:
THAT, in virtue of the fact that the
Platt law. in it's preamble. says it is a
fulfillment of the joint resolution and has
been adopted by Congress with the prin-
cipal object of establishing independence
We do propose to the convention to accept
the following as an appendix to the con-
stitution."
The first, second, fourth and fifth clauses
are quoted in their entirety. The third
clause has the following additions:
1T being understood that the United
States has the right to intervene to pre-
vent the action of foreign power or dis
turbances causing state of anarchy and
that the Intervention shall always be the
act of the United States, and not of iso-
lated agents. The intervention shall sup
pose neither sovereignty nor protectorate,
and shall only last sufficiently long to es-
tahlish normal conditions. Said interview
ton, it is also understood, shall not have
the right to interfere in the government
but only the right to preserve independ-
ence."
An addition to the sixth clause says that
the ownership of the Isle of Pines shall
be settled by a future treaty.
An addition to the seventh clause says:
1T shall be understood that the naval
stations do not give the United States the
right to intervene in the interior govern
ment, but are established with the sole
purpose of protecting American waters
from foreign invasion, directed against
Cuba or the United States. Cuba will sell
or lease the necessary land, at points to be
agreed upon later.
An addition to the eighth clause says
that the government of Cuba suggests at
the same time a treaty of commerce. based
upon reciprocity.
The minority report says:
1.-The explanations given to the commits
sion in Washington show that the Platt
law does not express the wishes of the
United States. 1t was intended to protect
the independence of Cuba, but the wording
gives other interpretations.
THE United States Is inconsistent in
asking naval stations when the amend
ment provides that no concessions shall be
given to foreign poWerS.I Such a demand
raises the question: whether the United
States does not consider Cuba part of it's
possessions" 70 t9-
The report of the minority virtually ac-
cepts the first and second clauses For the
third clause the following is substituted:
THAT the government of Cuba sub
scribes to the Monroe doctrine, and will
help the United States to enforce it against
other nations trying to violate it,
For the fourth clause the following is
substituted
Cuba does not recognize acts of inter
yention which are not in conformity with
the Foraker resolution and the laws Of
the country"
The seventh clause reads:
Cuba will maintain naval stations, hand
ing them over to the United States in time
of war" .-.. 5..
The report Of the minority also recon-
mends commercial treaty based upon re-
ciprocity.
The report of The majority has caused
considerable surprise It was generally
believed that the committee on relations
would recommend acceptance Of the Platt
amendment on the basis of the interpreta-
ton given by Secretary Root. but it was
not expected that such additions would be
made to various clauses the majority
recommend.