The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-31
Discussed for Hour by the Presi-
tors %. III. PIatt and SpOOner.
NO AGREEMENT REACHED
SEVERAL KNOTTY PROBLEMS PRE-
sENTED FOR SOLUTION.
Question Raised Whether This Coun-
try Is Responsible for Order After
Recognizing Independence.

WASHINGTON. May 3O-The President
and Mrs. Mckinley returned to Washington
this morning. and the former at once took
up public matters for consideration. Mrs.
Mckinley was resting comfortably this
evening.
An important conference on Cuban rela-
tions took place at the White House this
afternoon. There were present with Pres
ident Mckinley Secretary Root, Senator O.
II. Platt, chairman of the Senate committee
on relations with Cuba, and Senator Spoon
er. OF Wisconsin. For more than an hour
and a half the situation in Cuba was con-
sidered, and when the conference broke up
no determination had been reached 1t is
expected the whole matter will be brought
before the Cabinet tomorrow and possibly
Will be further discussed with those who
have had much TO do with shaping Cuban
relations thus far.
Secretary Root has been fully advised by
Governor General Wood regarding the
progress Of events in Cuba. and has been
informed of the action of the convention
in its successive stages, together with the
final action of the convention in adopting
the Platt amendment and the Interpretation
placed upon 1t by the convention, as we'll as
the Interpretation of the interviews between
the Cuban commissioners and the President
and secretary OF war. He was thus able
20 inform the President fully of the definite
results of the convention ia adopting the
Piatt amendment as amended or interpreted
by the delegates This information was ths
basis OF the discussion during the confer
ence to-day.
The President and his advisers must de-
termine whether the Platt amendment has
been substantially adopted by the con-
vention. This is preliminary to the with
drawal OF the United States authority and
forces from the Island of Cuba. If il
should be found that the Interpretation of
the convention is not satisfactory to this
government quite difficult problem arises,
as IL seems 10 be the intention of the
Cubans to proceed to form a government.
and that government must be recognized
or rejected by the President, as he has full
power to determine whether the act of
Congress has been complied with by the
convention.
cussed by those interested in Cuban affairs
relates as 10 what would follow should the
new Cuban government be recognized. The
Cuban government. IL is asserted will be
Tor some time without the machinery TO
execute it's own laws and put in operation
Its own edicts. 1t is held by some lawyers
that the moment the Cuban government is
recognized the authority of the United
States ceases, and there is some question
preservation OF law and order as the new
government would have troops and no
police force and would be practically power
less should there be any opposition to its
DEGREES and orders. The question whether
the United States forces would be warrant
ed IN upholding the government in execut-
Ing its orders has been raised; also whether
the President of the United States would be
authorized commander r-in-chief of the
army 10 give orders 70 our troops further
than their recall from foreign territory.
Before the Cuban convention acted these
subjects were under consideration to some
extent, but, new government
IL in process of formation. with the Plat1
amendment adopted with certain reserva-
tions. they become vitality interesting That
the President and secretary of war regard
the whole Cuban problem a serious one
was shown in the consultation to-day with
the senator's who were largely responsible
for the legislation.
An impression gained currency that the
Philippine situation. and the effect upon IL
of the Supreme Court decisions, the
subject OF the conference to-day, but this
was denied by those who participated in
It. The complete opinions Of the court
have not been read and considered with the
care necessary 10 arrive at any fruitful
results to their bearing upon the Philip
pines.