Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-02-13
CUBANS DEFIANT.
Convention Wants Island Govern
ment Formed Before Formulating
Relations with United States.

Washington, Feb. 11.-Cuba virtually
| defies the United States. This is the
startling news which reaches Washing
| ton through unofficial channels. A dis
| patch from Havana says the Cuban con-
| stitutional convention has decided not,
| to formulate the relations which are to
exist between the United States and
the island, as it was called upon to do
by the president
1t will instead pass a resolution au-
thorizing the president of the Cuban
republic, when elected and installed.
to conclude treaties of alliance and of
| commercial intercourse with the Unit
ed States and other American nations.
This information, if officially con-
frmed will doubtless produce great
stir in congressional circles The
friends of absolute Cuban independ-
ence will seize upon it as the best way
out of the trouble. arguing that it is i'm
possible for Cuba to make treaties with
the United States before there is Gu
ban government, and that it is the duty
of the United States to trust to the
good faith of the Cubans and rely upon
their carrying out the terms of the res
olution
On the other hand, the administra-
ton and many of the republican lead
ers say they do not trust the Cubans
and will not be willing to withdraw our
troops from the island till the relations
are satisfactorily formulated.
Washington, Feb. II. Secretary
Root admits that Gen. Wood. with the
consent and authority of the war de-
partment, has made three demands of
the Cuban constitutional convention.
They are:
First-Recognition of the right of the
United States to military control of the
island until a native government shall have
been formed which is satisfactory to this
country.
standardization of the right Of the
United States to intervene at any time
after such government shall have been
formed to prevent the passing of the island
irto the possession or domination of any
foreign power.
Third-Grants of at least three coaling
stations and necessary lands therefor one
at Havana, one at Cienfuegos and one at
Santiago.
According to Secretary Root, the
words complete pacifica tion.'' used in
the senate resolution. must be con-
strued as applying to the establishment
of a sound form of government, one
which will last and not be subject to
frequent revolutions, as well as merely
creating a state of peace in the island
That this implies a certain continued
American control of Cuban affairs is
frankly admitted by the secretary.
The purpose of the war department.
and Secretary Root, acting for the pres
ident, in demanding that these rights
be confirmed formally by the Cubans
in their constitution, is that the cues
ton may be permanently settled.
Secretary Root said Saturday:
1.-THE framing of constitution for the
island will not be the cue for the with
drawal of Our troops. There will be {,
great deal to be done there after they get
a constitution before they have stable gov
eminent. In the first place, an election
then the first administration of the island
must be indicted into office. Then this
new government must be given a chance to
prove that it can manage affairs without
the assistance of the United States. 1t
would be q great mistake for us to with
draw our troops and find inside of a week
or a month that we had left revolution
upon the island