Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-16
RESULT OF REFUSAL
Cuban Opposition to the Plat Amend
ment.
WILL DELAY THEIR INDEPENDENCE
Expected That They Will Per-
ceiye the Fact.
NoAPPRE TENSIONS FELT

The statement coming from Cuba that
the committee of the constitutional con-
vention have decided not to accept the con-
ditions imposed by the enactment Of Con-
gress with reference to the withdrawal OF
the American troops, does not appear to
excite any particular apprehension here.
The assumption is that the CubanS do not
fully comprehend the situation, and that
they may come to better understanding
of it later. Meanwhile failure on their
part to comply with the requirements set
forth in the Plat amendment will result
merely in the continuance of the military
government of the island and delay In the
establishment of their Independent govern
ment.
Most Liberal Conditions.
1t was fully realized by men in Congress
when the amendment to the army apprO-
priation bill was adopted that the condi-
tons We're the most liberal to the Cubans
that could be got from Congress. and that
IL the matter had been left unsettled the
result would have been probably much less
satisfactory to those who feel that Cuba
| ought to be left unrestrained to do as she
pleases, without regard for the conse-
quences to the United States.
The opposition to the amendment as
adopted was not actually as strong as It
appeared to be. and except for the exciu-
sion of the Isle of Pines from Cuban ter
ritory and the implied right of interference
in the internal affairs OF Cuba should It
become necessary, the requirements Inn
posed were recognized even by those who
would not confess 1t by their votes to be
necessary to the welfare of this country.
The knowledge that the action of Con-
gIess is irrevOcable, being sustained. as It
was. by an almost universal recognition Of
its propriety, Is expected to force itself
upon the Cubans, IL not at once, certainly
before very long, and when they fully COM
prehend the situation further trouble is
not anticipated.
Some of the best friends of the proposed
Cuban republic feel that the Cubans ought
to comply with the provisions of Congress
without hesitation, and that a failure to
comply would imply either utter lack of
wisdom on their part or a purpose on the
| part of those controlling their action to
render Cuban independence forever tmpos-
sble
Construction of substantially"
| Some question has been raised about the
word substantially" which appears in the
| preamble of the Plat resolution. This
| word substantially is used in the pre-
| amble as follows:
THE President is hereby authorized to
| leave the government and control of the
| Island of Cuba to its people so soon as the
| government shall have been established In
I said island under constitution which,
either as part thereof or i'm an ordinance
| appended thereto. shall define the future
relations of the United States with Cuba
substantially as follows
Then follow the conditions.
While the word substantially was used
| advisedly in this preamble, 1t was not
meant to be taken in its broad sense of al
lowing any material change or alteration
| of the conditions, but simply not to put q
| cast-iron condition on the language used
| in the amendment.
! The Cubans however. seem to think that
| this word substantially can be twisted
| so to allow them to amend or accept
| part of the conditions and reject the eth
! ers. But this is denied by the senators
| who were instrumental in drawing the reso-
| luton. who claim that the conditions must
| be complied with in toto and ..substtn-
| TALLY" in the language of the resolution,
| but this latter is not absolutely necessary.