Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-05-23
A DIVIDED
Coban Committee on Relations Not
N Unit.

Havana, May Alsb AS
relations of the Cuban constitutional
convention will submit majority ana
minority reports to the convention TO-
day. The majority report qu~otesarti-
| Gle / of the treaty of Paris, the JOINT
resolution of the United states con-
gress and the Platt amendment, ana
| then proceeds as follows:
'Inasmuch as Secretary Root, peins
authorized by President Mckinney,
| saws the Platt law has for its OBJECT
the guaranteeing of the independence
of Cuba and does not mean lnterler-
ence with it's government or the exer-
else of a protectorate or OF sovereignty
and also that Intervention VIII only
take place when independence is en-
| dangered 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
| Plat law, in it's preamble, says 1t Is a
fulflment of the joint resolution
| mas DttI duoplCu ny Wis
principal object of establishing indie
p~endence, we do propose to the con-
vention to accept the following as an
appendix to the constitution
The first. second, fourth and fifth
clauses are quoted in their entirety.
The third clause has the following
addition:
1T being understood that the United
States have
Right to Intervene
TO prevent the action of a foreign
power or disturbances causing a state
of anarchy, and that the Intervention
shall always be the act of the United
States and not of Isolated agents. The
Intervention shall suppose neither SOW
| e~reignty nor a protectorate and shall
last only sufficiently long TO establish
normal conditions. Said Intervention,
it is also understood. shall not hav the
right to interfere in the government,
but only the right to preserve indie
~pendence."
An addition TO the sixth clause says
ownership Of the Isle of Pines shall be
settled by a future treaty. An addition
to the seventh clause says:
TT shall be understood that the ma
| val stations do not give the United
States the right to interfere with the
interior government. but are estab-
lished for the sole purpose of protect
ing American waters from foreign in
vasion directed against Cuba or the
United States. Cuba will sell or lease
the necessary lands at points to be
agreed upon later"
An addition to the eighth clause says
hat the government of Cuba suggests
at the same time a treaty of m
based upon reciprocity.
The minority report says:
THE explanations given to the COM
mission in Washington show that the
Platt law does not express the wishes
OF the United States. It was intended
to protect the independence of Cuba,
but the wording gives other interpreta-
tons.
Charges Inconsistency.
The United States are inconsistent
in asking naval stations, when the
amendment provides that no conces-
sions shall be given to foreign powers.
Such a demand raises the question
whether the United States dies not con-
slider Cuba a part of their possessions"
The report of the minority virtually
accepts the first and second clauses.
For the third clause the following Is
substituted:
THAT the government OF Cuba sub
scribes to h Monroe doctrine and will
help the United States to enforce 1t
against other nations trying TO violate
it,"
For the fourth clause the following is
substituted:
Cuba does not recognize acts of in
tervention which are not in conformity
with the Foraker resolution and the
laws of the United States"
The seventh clause reads:
Cuba will maintain naval stations.
handing them Over to the United
States in time of war"
The minority report recommends a
commercial treaty based upon reciproc-
ity.
The report of the majority has
caused considerable surprise. It was
generally believed hat the committee
on relations would recommend an ac-
ceptance o fthe Plat amendment on
the basis of the Interpretation given
by Secretary Root. but 1t was not ex-
pected that such additions would be
made to various clauses as the ma
jority recommend.