The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-06-01
NOT TO Be MODIFIED
CubanS Will Not Be Allowed 10 Alter
Plat Amendment.
MUST ACCEPT 1T AS 1T is.
Such Is the Decision Reached at a
Cabinet Meeting Yesterday.
ROOT WILL CONVEY THE IDEA
To the Constitutional Convention Now in
Session in Cuba.
M'KlNLEY, PLAT AND LODGE CONFER
Cuban Notifications and interpretations
of Amendment Would Not Be Sub
stantial" Compliance with Terms.

Washington, May ri The administration
has decided that the actioa Of the Cuban
constitutional convention In accepting the
terms Of the Platt amendment with modin
cations and Interpretations Of their own,
was not substantial" compliance With our
terms within the meaning of the amend.
ment. and Secretary Root win convey this
Intelligence to the convention The decl.
sion was reached at. the cabinet meeting
today. The meeting lasted over an hour
AMI half and had been preceded by an
hours conference between tho prrsidelt
and Senator's rlatt OF Connecticut aud
Lodge Of Massachusetts, As the author
OF the amendment the president desired tG
learn the views OF senator Platt and also
those Of Senator Lodge who is one of the
influential members OF the committee on
foreign relations. AZ the cabinet meeting
Secretary Root took the position that the
interpretations OF the Platt amendment con
tained In the constitution adopted by the
convention and whereases appended TO It,
went outside Of fair Interpretation NJ its
meaning and was not acceptable. In this
view the cabinet concurrcd when asked
as to what would he the next step Of the
government after the Cuban convention md
been notified of the rejection Of It's action
one Of the members Of the cabinet said
the government could do nothing further
until the convention acted; that ms long
MS the conditions Of the rlati amendment
were on the statute books compliance with
them must precede our REIMBURSEMENT OF
control over the island.
The cabinet discussed also the decision Of
the supreme court In the nsuar cases, cs-
pecally their bearing on TIE forthcoming
opinion that IN some phases the De Lima
decision might hc applicable to the Philp-
pines. but that Ia other ways Il might be
entirely inapphcable, No definite conrl1.
sion. however, was rnached AZ toddy's
meeting
The cabinet meeting was unable 10 reach
any conclusion MS 10 the Philippines tarlc
situation as affected by the insular de-
cson Attorney General Knox win make
careful examination OF the Language OF
actual bearing between this country snd
the Philippines Members Of the cabinet
Individually refrain from wen expressing
their personal opinions AZ TO the possibility
Of an extra session OF congress-
The message of rejection sent ia General
Wood advises the CubHns in unqualified
language that there is no power resting IA
the United States government to change
the terms OF the Plat amendment and
this government insists on the acceptance
OF the Plat amendment without amend
ment or qualification.
The Cuban convention ia sim in session
nnd the message OF rejection will be re.
ceiycd by II.
Secretary Gage pointed out that the sur
Plus of the treasury Is mounting mp.
The Cuban convention took from the
coalng stations paragraph Of the rntt
amendment Its obligatory character ana
merely Authorized the Cuban government
IN its judgment, 20 allow the United states
to possess coming or naval stations. The
United States will insist on an ahsOIu G
agreement to grant us these coaling sta
lions.
lection Is that the Cubans have SO changed
This Yitally important part Of the Platt
amendment as Ia make our right TO inter
1cnP an Ambiguous and doubtful matter,
whereas we insist on o straight, unequIyotal
acknON ledgment NJ our right 10 Intervene
when In our Judgment Intervention ls nee
tssary to assure Cuban Independence or
stable government.
Havana. May 3l--rhe decision OF the
United States government not 10 accept
the Cuban constitution as adopted by the
Havana convention Is keen disappoint
ment 10 the members Of the convention
who have voted for n. Two members were
interviewed tonight and said in substance
that they had reason 10 suppose the con
htitntion would appeal to Washington and
Otherwise would not have voted for the
majority report as submitted. They also
pOint ont that n there was any possibility
~ rejection the amendment could be
rnanged al the last minute In striking out
the amendments and inserting such that
wouId be accepted by congress
General Wood said: II never understood
that the explanations Of Secretary Root
would be lncoTp9r at N ne ne acGeplaRt,re
regarded these explanations as eXplana-
lions merely and not IN the nature as 10
form part OF the acceptance.