The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-01
PLAT AMENDMENT
MUST Be ACCEPTED
MEETING OF M'KINLEY'S CABINET
DISCUSSED THE QUESTION
THOROUGHLY
NO RESERVATIONS WILL GO
CUBAN CONVENTION WILL BE TOLD
TO CUT OUT sUPERFLUOUs
ADDENDA
MATTER NOW UP TO cUBANs

MATTER NOW UP TO CUBANs
WASHINGTON, May 21.-The admin
lstrat1on has deciSed that the action of
the cuban constitutional convention in
accepting the terms Of the PIatt amen1-
ment with modification and interpreta-
tions of their own was not "substantia.p,
compliance with our terms within the
meaning Of the amendment, and Secre-
tary Root will convey this intelligence
to the convention. The decision was
reached at the cabinet meeting today.
The meeting lasted over an hour and a
half, and had been preceded by an hours
conference between the president and
Senators Platt, of Connecticut. and
Lodge, Of Massachusetts. The president
decided to learn the views of Sena.or
Piatt, as the author of the amendment,
and also those Of Senator Lodge who is
one Of the influential members of the
committee on foreign relations.
AT the cabinet meeting Secretary Root
took the position that the Interpretation
OF the Platt amendment contained In the
constitution adopted by the convention.
and the whereases appended to 1t went
outside Of fair Interpretation Of it's
meaning, and was unacceptable In this
view the cabinet concurred When ask
ed as to what would be the next step OF
the government after the Cuban con-
vention had been notified of the rejection
Of its action, one of the members of the
cabinet said that the government could
do nothing further until the convention
again acted; that as long as the condi-
tions of the Platt amendment were on
the statute books compliance with them
must precede our relinquiShment of CON
troll over the island.
FLAT REJECTION
The cabinet held that the amendments
and interpretations, and the wealth of
whereases placed by the Cuban conven-
tion upon the Cuban amendment
amounted to practical modification of the
Platt amendment such as was beyond
the power of this government to accept
The message Of rejection sent to Gen
Wood advises the CuTbans in unqualified
language that there is no power resting
in the United States government to
change the terms of the PIatt amend
ment, and that this government inststs
on the acceptance OF the Platt amend
ment without amendment or qualif1ca-
tion The Cuban Convention is still in
session, and the message OF rejection
will be delivered to it Immediately. The
administration Is confident that the
Cubans will understand the exact atti-
tude of this government and make a
satisfactory acceptance within a reason
able period.
The three main points in which the ac-
tion Of the Cuban constitutional conven-
-tion is regarded as unsatisfactory relate.
1t is said, to coaling stations, sanitation
and intervention. The Cuban conven-
tion took from the coalang stations para
graph of the Platt amendment its obl!g-
atory character and merely authorized
the Cuban government, in its judgment,
to allow the United States to possess
coaHng or naval stations. The United
States will Insist on an absolute agree
ment to grant us these coaling stations
With respect to sanitation the Cubans
do not agree to carry out plans already
devised, and in accepting the Platt
amendment modify it's provisions so as
to change them considerably. In the
matter Of Intervention cur objection is
that the Cubans have so changed this
vitality important part of the Platt
amendment as to make our right to In
tervene an ambiguous and doubtful mat
ter, whereas we insist on a straight.
unequivocal Acknowledgement of our
right to Intervene when IN our judgment
intervention is necessary to assure Gu
ban independence and a stable govern
ment
TNsULAR DECISIONS.
The cabinet also discussed the dec 'stons
especially their bearing upon the forth
coming decision Of the court in the Phil
tppine cases. 1t was the general opinion
that in some phases the De Lima de-
cision might be applicable to the Philip
pines, but that in other ways it might
be held entirely inappIcable.
NO definite conclusions however, was
reached at today's meeting
The cabinet was unable to reach any
M n1 -
situation, as affected by the recent in
sular decisions of the supreme court. AT
torney General Knox VIII make a careful
examination of the language Of the de-
cisions at once and ascertain their exact
bearing on the tariff between this coun-
try and the Philippines He then will
state to the president and his advisers
the powers now vested in the government
in dealing with this subject. There was
little discussion Of this matter owing to
the general lack of clear understanding
as to the real effect OF the decisions
Mr.. Knox may report his conclusions on
the subject at the next cabinet meeting,
and probably also will discuss the re-
suits of his examination Of the opinions
of the court with the president indl-
vidually. Meanwhile discussion of the
need of an extra session is deferred, as
consideration Of the question of an extra
session was regarded as premature at
this time. Members Of the cabinet indi-
vidually refrafned from even expressing
their personal opinion as to the posi-
bility of congress being convened in ex-
traordinarV session.
The only other important matter
brought UP at the sessfen was a state
ment by Secretary Gage as TO the
finances of the government The presi-
dent and cabinet had been away from
off aud rV
Gage took the opportunity to point out
that the surplus in the treasury is stead
lily mounting upward, iarld that national
financial conditions in general are very