The times., 1901-03-12
cnmnIicntinnsin Cuhn.

The Administration continues TO give out
encouraging assurances in regard to the
Cuban situation. and apparently believes
that the Constitutional Convention In Ha
vana viii aceept.the American terms be-
fore long. and with good grace. AS we
have before remarked. information at the
command Of the War Department may
he more comprehensive and reliable than
that which is reaching the American
press: but If so the fact is exceptional in
the history of the past four years
What our newspapers hear from their
correspondents in Cuba is that a majority
OF the delegates to the Constitutional Con
vention are bitterly opposed to the small
est shadow OF suzerainty. or a protector
ate. and are being further stiffened in
their inclination TO resist by appeals from
the revolutionary party in all parts Of the
island. The feeling against the terms is
being manifested in public meetings and
in the columns Of the Cuban radical Jour
nails
The party Of independence in Cuba. as
it calls itself. stil cIings TO the ground
less idea that the Platt amendment was
adopted by Congress under a misappre-
hension Of the conditions existing in
Cuba, and Of the sentiments Of its people.
and that the mass Of Americans are in
favor of giving the Cubans the most
complete sovereignty. liberty, and license.
DID these political infants but know H.
there are very few persons IN this coun-
try with any intelligent conception of the
dangers that would threaten the United
States were a sovereign State with the
peculiar and anarchistic tendencies Of
Cuba permitted to exist near our shores.
who do not regret that the terms agreed
upon by Congress We're not made stronger
and more specific.
As a matter Of self-Drotection the
United States is estopped from granting
all the Cubans want They must accept
American suzerainty in their foreign re-
latious. and as TO war-making and debt
contracting powers because there is no
safe ground upon which we could concede
them more. Whether they realize the
fact or not, il is certain that 10 turn the
island over 20 the element which forms
The majority Of its Inhabitants. without
restrictions. would be simply to assume
responsibility for the production of anoth-
ct Haiti. threatening Us eternally with
the destruction Of our commercial inter
ests ia Cuba. and with trouble with for
:
1t is 10 be feared that the Cuban radi-
Gals viii be encouraged in their position
Of autagonism to the United States by a
mos 1n-.ut in Great Britain looking to in
terysrtiol es. that Power 10 prevent the
establishment Of an American protector
ate or s1Izerainty. The Manchester Cham
her of Commerce. a powerful commercial
organization. with which the family and
business associates Of Colonial Secretary
Chamberlain are closely identified has
memorialized the British Government On
the subject. The memorial reads as fol-
lows.
"The city Of Birmingham De- largely interested
iu Irad, with the spanish W.sf Indian Islands
The once considerable trade UIth Porto Rico has
been practically closed by the Introduction of a
tariff iu favor Of the United states A similarly
disastrous result is now threatened iu regard 10
abe more important and extensive British trade
With tuha. the loss % Whirh would dasurtdly
lufict serious financial injury upon merchants
Manufacturers. and the shipping community of
Great Britain. Without going into tine question OF
American politics. your memoriallsts cannot close
their eyes 60 the fact that both public opinion
and the proceedings of the Legislature IA the
United >tate- appear 60 favor the complete con-
troll, al au early date. oi the whole foreign rc-
latious of tlc Island Of Cuba by the United
States
'Iu the opinion Of your meuorialists,
Alilttltai IIHltiLHfdte haHiA probably
the Imposition q tariff protective Of American
Interests and generally hostile 10 European trade.
hour meuorialists, therefore. pray that prompt
steTe may be taken by biz Msie-;ys Government
q use every means st its disposal fDr the pro-
lection 81 British commercial interests In Cuba,
with tAe yiew-of saving British trade with the
island from annihiiati0n"
Considering the relations of the protest
ing body 10 the British Colonial Office
and the Board OF Trade, the suspicion is
excusable that this appeal for inter
vention against the United States ia Cuba
IS inspired. and may amount to a semi
official hint 10 Washington that the
American Government must not think Of
imposing terms upon the proposed new
State which shall not arst De passed upon
and approved by the British Foreign Of
fee. Should such theory prove correct,
stern trial Of President McKinleys sur
viving Americanism Is in store for him