Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-01
THE CUBAN AMENDMENT.


The officials here, as well as the senators,
feel confident that the Cubans will eventu-
ally accept the provisions of the Cuban
amendment to the army bill. and in go
doing will give the President the power to
withdraw the American troops from the
island and allow the Cubans to establish an
independent government.
The members of the commission that
came here from Cuba to consult in regard
to the legislation relating to the relations
of this country with Cuba leave for Ha-
vana today. having completed their work.
and go home to report the results.
The commissioners had a final interview
with Senator Platt of Connecticut, chair
man of the Senate committee on Cuba and
other members of the committee. and gave
them to understand that the CubanS would
accept the conditions adopted by Congress
at once, II they could get some promise in
regard to trade relations between the two
countries
The commissioners stated that they want
some positive statement from this govern
ment in regard to the commercial rela-
tons between the two countries, especially
with tendencies toward free trade in natural
and manufactured products. mutually as
surfing ample special advantage in their re-
spective markets.
The senator's explain that when the ques-
ton of the Cuban amendment was before
the committee on Cuba the original draft
should not make any commercial treaties
With any nation without the consent of the
United States.
This provision was long and earnestly
discussed. and 1t was finally decided that
1t would be best to leave this question en-
tirely out of the provisions, so that Cuba
could be free to trade where she wished
under the best advantages. and 1t would
not be well to lie her up with conditions
which might be at a disadvantage to her
commercially in the future.
The commissioners were given to under
stand. however, that this government ex-
pected and hoped that as soon as the other
conditions were complied with that negotia-
tfons would be begun at once for a reci-
proclty treaty between Cuba and the United
states, and by this means the Cuban COM
mercial relations would be established
1t was pointed out to them that Cuba
would nave the advantage Of being free to
trade with whomsOever she wished, and that
this very freedom would put her in a posi-
.tion to make a more advantageous rect-
procity treaty with US, because if she is not
satisfied with the terms proposed with the
United States, she could go elsewhere
where better terms were offered.
But the senators declared themselves GER
tain that while they could give no positive
assurances as to what this government
would do that all the Cubans desired In re-
gard to commercial relations would be
granted them under the reciprocity treaty
The commissioners, after their interviews
this morning. expressed themselves as
pleased with the outlook, and they even de-
clared that they felt that the Cubans would
within a short time accept the provisions
laid down by Congress as soon as they were
understood, although they still declared
that If the United States would accept at
once and incorporate in these conditions
a provision providing for commercial rela-
lions the Cuban amendment would be
adopted at