Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-23

constitutional Convention Friendly.
The Star desires to call particular atten-
don to Mr. Peppers latest letter from Cuba
which appeared IN yesterdays issue 1t
deals with a subject of very great interest
just now and in a way to make clear GER
tain matters about which there has been
no little transformation spread abroad in
his country.
An impression has been created that the
constitutional convention sitting at Ha-
vana is distinctly anti-American; that Its
Issire has been to ignore the United States
cnmpIetelv; that ID recognizes no claims or
this government to special consideration at
the hands OF the Cuban government. but
rather reSentS the bare suggestion OF such
a thing Mr.. Pepper contradicts this spe-
cifcalIy. He says the sentiment OF the con-
vcntion has practically been unanimous III
favor of recognizing the claims OF the
United States 10 special consideration, but
a doubt has existed as to the best means
and the proper form of expressing such
recognition This is entirely reasonable.
The question is a delicate one. and we may
-asiIy believe that men of the friendllest
intentions have hesitated in the premises
purely because of a fear of laundering one
way or another.
This hesitation. has been encouraging to
the marplots and to the enemies of the
United States. as Mr.. Pepper proceeds to
show. He says on this point:
"A good many letters have been received
ny members of the convention urging them
TO stand out and formulate no opinions
Some of the writers were doubtless sincere
and some clearly were moved by partisan
feeling and a wish to embarrass the Amefi-
can administration. Whatever the motives.
The delegates who received these letters
have not been inclined TO follow the radicai
tdvice given them"
Can ii be that any of these letters came
rom the United States? Are any of the
opponents of expansion extreme in their
views that they would welcome. and even
aid in bringing about trouble for the adr-2'r
istratfon in adjusting this matter with
cuba?
And another very important paragraph
is this:
Perhaps word should be said about the
great interest which the European coun-
tries represented by cOnsuls in Cuba are
taking in this formulating OF the cuban re-
lationS with the United States Apparently
most of the European governments have a
much better conception of it than do
American public men, and the American
public itself. In the constitution they have
watched closely the debt provisions and the
t.ignerS
..Al of them expect that at some future
-, rfod a demand will be made on Cuba for
the payment of the Cuban-Spanlsh war
lebt amounting to $Jo.pD,oD or S5n.rD,-
800 bu, that * not their immediate con-
Germ What they are now watching is the
disposition of the convention to commit it
self To special trade relations with the
United States and also the attitude with
regard To naval stations. 1t might not be
lust to call this n chapter of foreign in
trislle because what has been done has
been done very adroitly, and the consular
representatives of European nations are
here to look cut for the interests OF their
own countries and not the interests of the
United States.
But the main point is the assurance that
The Cubans have rejected the advice of ex-
tlemiSts in this matter. and are disposed to
meet the reasonable wishes of this country
on the subject of the relations that should
exist between Cuba and the United States.
Aud accepting that assurance. there need
he no thought OF any other than a success
ful termination of the negotiations If do
nestle politics In this country can be kept
in the background. We know what we
want. and what in our opinion il would
benefit cuba fully much as ourselves for
her to grant US If she makes us an Offer
which in our opinion is too little. there
need be no difficulty in putting our desires
i'm the form Of a polite suggestion; anC
properly urged there will probably be NJ
serious difficulty about our securing sucf
terms as will give us the preference il
cuba over our transatlantic rivals for trade
or in making Cuba's protector and con
-ulting counsel in all matters of foreign
political policy.