Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-05-01
END THEIR MISSION.
The Cuban Delegates Take Leave
of the Capital.
VIII Sail for Havana or Wednesday,
Belief That They Will Recon-
mend Acceptance of Plat
Amendment.

Washington, April 29.-The Cuban
commissioners made their farewell
call upon the President Saturday, and
expressed the hope that there should
be reciprocal trade relations estaL-
lshed between Cuba and the United
States. President Mckinley told the
CubanS that the formation of a gov
eminent and the provision for po1iti-
cal relation with the United States
was the first question to be set
tied. After that is done and Cubs
has a government capable of making
treaties he will appoint commissions
ers to meet representatives of the
Cuban government to negotiate a
commercial treaty.
This was not entirely satisfactory
to the Cubans. because it does not
enable them to carry back promise
that Cuba shall have in the future
either free trade or special benefits
under our tariff laws. The CuOans,
however, have been favorably i'm.
pressed with their visit to Washing.
ton, and they express their highest
appreciation of the courtesies and
consideration shown them By the
president. Secretary Root and the
members of congress they have met.
SeEor Llorente, who is recognized
as che of the ablest lawyers in Cuba,
expressed his admira ton for the gov
eminent of the United States, and
SAID that the visit to Washington had
made profound impression upon all
To Thnr
as never before the stupendous power
md grandeur of the American repub-
lie AS they had travelled through 4
part of this country, and seen its de-
ccpment. and here in Washington
had come in contact with the ina
chlnery of the government itself, they
res lied that the United States stocG
III the front rank of world powers
and that Cuba. whatever her amb-
tic rs, rested under the projecting
wing of this great republic.
Impressed with It's Democracy.
They had also been impressed with
the democracy of this great govern
ment. Accustomed to dealing wi Ii
an autocratic government like Spain,
whose governor generals they had to
approach with Difference, they ex-
perienced the contrast between mon
archy and democracy when they sat
down with the president OF the
United States and conversed with him
as they would among themselves.
While they have received no def
ni-e assurances from either the pres
ident or secretary Of war. the COM
missioners will return to Havana and
recommend the adoption by the con-
stitutional convention of provisions
substantially the same as those con-
tanned n the Platt amendment.
They have tried to find some way
of modifying the para graph regard
ing intervention which would make it
specific rather than general, leaving
to this government the absolute pow
er to determine for itself what dis
orders should justify intervention. 1t
has been pointed out to them that
specific declara tons would simply
place Cuba under the power and pro-
lection of this government in way
to destroy its sovereignty and make
Cuba as amenable to the federal pow
er as state III the union. IL mas
been suggested to them that it is bet
ter for Cuba that this provision stand
a. it is in the Platt amendment and
trust to the democratic spirit of this
government shown in its whole his
tory in dealing with the republics on
this continent that have enjoyed it's
protection. This suggestion appealed
to the Cubans more strongly than any
other argument that has been made,
and they will present it as salts
factory explanation to the Cuban con-
vention.
Leave the Capital.
The delegates started for New
York at II o'clock Saturday night,
homeward bound. They will sail for