The times., 1901-05-17
Circulation Statement.
Cuhn,s Opportunity.

Cuba's Opportunity.
While the news from Havana indi-
Gates that a majority of the Committee
on American Relations of the Cuban
Constitutional Convention Will recon-
mend unqualified acceptance Of the
Platt terms, a minority report is likely
to be presented, signed by two dele
gates. namely. Gualberto Gomez and
Silva. The former is said to be prepar-
ing such a paper. In it, we are told, he
will hold that the explanations made by
Secretary Root to the Cuban Commis-
sion which recently visited Washington
constitute an admission that the United
States will change the terms if the Gu
bans insist. that clauses will be added
guaranteeing the absolute independence
Of Cuba, and that the Intervention
clause will be stricken out, since the
Monroe Doctrine already provides for
Intervention. should that become neces-
sarv He viii also insist that coaling
stations shall not be used as naval sta
tions.
II Gomez is correctly reported, and
that is probable, his views merely illus
trate the density Of the average Cuban
mind concerning the situation. The
Platt amendment is American law.
Neither Mr.. Root nor Mr.. Mckinley
could vary or modify its text, or change
a punctuation mark in it, The execu-
tive department Of this Government has
but one duty in the premises 10 per
form. and that is to execute the law in
spirit and letter. How it is possible
that a leading member of the Cuban
Convention could be ignorant of
this fact is beyond comprehension. Two
at least of Senor Gomez's colleagues
are familiar with American law,
having practiced it in the United States.
and the committee recently returned
from this Capital know that the Gomez
ideas above set forth are nonsensical.
He. and those who sympathize with
his views afford this country a specta-
Gle and a lessen which win not be lost
upon public opinion or upon our public
men. 1t is TO be presumed that the
Constitutional Convention called to-
gether to lay the foundations Of the new
Cuban State represent the cream of
political intelligence and ability to be
found on the island. But the manner in
which the work of the convention has
been handled is deplorable evidence
that the Cubans are not only unfit for
intelligent self-government. but have
no conception Of what it means.
For their own sakes we trust that the
delegates viii not be led into an ire
parable blunder by men Of the Gomez
stripe. There will be, there can be, no
change in our terms between now and
the meeting Of Congress. L the present |
proposition be rejected, the islanders |
will find TO their chagrin that very /
much harder terms VIII be imposed |
when the subject of Cuban relations /
shall come up again for Congressional |
action. To talk about demanding a |
declaration Of the absolute sovereignty /
Of Cuba is utter folly, and Gomez prob /
ably knows it to be so. 1t may be that I.
ne is simply playing to native and Le-
gro gallery il advancing the idea. Gu
ba cannot be absolutely sovereign be-
cause the interests. dignity, peace. and
safety Of the United States render such
a thing impossible. The right Of inter
vention Will be strictly adhered to. and
it must be plainly recognized in the Gu
ban Constitution. The notion that this
country can be deferred from using
coaling stations for the purposes Of
naval stations is absurd. 1t is naval
stations that we principally need in Gu
ba, and intend to have.
Perhaps it is possible that, consider
ing the difficulty which has arisen in
making the Cubans understand exactly
what the American Government means.
too much care has been taken to save
their feelings. Palmer language might
have been better for all parties. What
the United States means and all along
has meant is that it is glad TO see Cuba
free, win accord her fun autonomy, and
control over local affairs except in the
event OF anarchy; but must exercise
permanent suzerain powers over the
new State, and have supervisory and
veto authority over her treaties and
debt and war making power. If the
people Of Cuba viii not consent to these
restrictions, the single alternative viii
be annexation. II the Constitutional
Convention should dodder along, avoid
ing the present issue in the hope Of re-
lief at the hands Of Congress until next
December, annexation viii be very
imminent But for the opposition Of
the sugar and tobacco trusts we should
be inclined, in that case, to consider it
inevitable.