Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-22
Document Signed and Now in Gen,
Woods Possession.
SUPPLEMENTARY ACTION PROBABLE
Convention Must Define ReIa-
tons With This Country.
ELESS OTHERW WISE

The War Department has not heard from
Gen. Wood of the reception by him of the
Cuban constitution, as reported from Ha-
vana, but Cen Wood will proba bly, report
the possession of the document in due time
The constitution was signed yesterday by
the members of the convention. 1t is under
stood that Gen. Wood is thoroughly in
formed of the purposes of the adminstra-
ton respecting the treatment to be accorde; Il
to this document. The most interesting and
Important fact in this connection is that
Gen. Wood has probably received orders
not to transmit the constitution to Wash
ington until he can send along with it
some supplementary document or resolu-
ton by the constitutional convention de-
fining the relations that are to exist be-
tween the United States and Cuba. The
administration is evidently determined not
to permit the Cubans to evade some action
on this most important question.
1t is intended that the Cubans. far as
possible, shall make the future relations of
the two countries a part Of their funda-
mental government. 1t is he'd in well-in-
formed circles that supplementary action
will have the same binding effect as if the
action were incorporated in any portion of
the constitution itself
Such Action Necessary.
Inc statement is mace quite pOSltlNely
that it would be idle and purposeless to
transmit the constitution as it stands and
without any provision for the hereafter as
between the two countries. Administration
officials refuse to discuss the contingency
Of the Cuban convention 7adjourning with
out taking any action in this respect. OF
course, should the convention adopt this
method Gen. Wood would be compelled to
10 La
report on the work of the convention and
the failure to do as suggested. so the date
Of the dispatch of the constitution from
Havana to Washington will, it is said, de-
pend upon the work of the present commit
tee on relations with the United States.
This committee is in almost daily confer
ence with Gen. Wood.
Position of the Administration.
The administration is in way inclined
to permit the settlement of the future re-
lations to go over to the first government
that is established. 1t would much prefer
that the relations should be fixed now and
hereafter ratified by the Cuban executive
and legislative departments. 1t is pointed
out, however, that if the Cubans are dis
posed to act in bad faith in the future
1t would be just as easy for them to repeal
d portion of the constitution as to repeal
a legislative enactment If bad faith is ever
intended 1t can be manifested in one way as
well as another. But the pledging of Gu
bag word now would be more solemn and
weighty than if permitted to go along until
some other time.
1t is now regarded as a physical impos-
sibility for the present Congress to act upon
the subject of Cuba, for even with the most
rapid work on the part of the constitu-
tional convention, 1t IS improbable that the
agreement as to the relations could be dis
patched before the middle of next week.
for the time occupied in bringing
1t to Washington only a few days would
remain Of the present session.
Outlook for Extra Session.
1t is even likely that the President will
have been inaugurated on the 4th of March
before the Cuban situation can be in such
shape that he can decide upon a definite
course as to the calling of Congress. The
outlook, then, again points to the imposS1-
bility of averting a called session of Con-
gress for the consideration of the Cuban
question The President could not now fix
any date for this session. that will rest
entirely upon the sending to Washington of
the final work of the convention.
1t has been decided that Secretary Roots
letter to General Wood outlining the points
of proposition touching the relations be-
tween the two countries, which he thinks
would be acceptable for this government,
Will not be given out for publication here.
1t Is said to have been communicated by
General Wood to the members of the COM
m1ttee appointed by the constitutional con-
vent1on to deal with this subject and is re-
garded as confidential at preSent