BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-03-20
The PI2tt Amendment
Policy of the United States
towards Cuba
Crystallized

The following is the text of the famous
Platt Amendment to the Army Blll dehn-
ing the policy of the United States towards
Cuba:
That in the fulflment of the declaration
contained in the joint resolution approved
April 20, 1898, entitled For the recog-
milton of the independence of the people of
Cuba, demanding that the Government of
Spain relinquiSh lis authority and govern
ment in the island of Cuba. and to withdraw
its land and naval forces from Cuba and
Cuban waters, and directing the President
of the United States to use the land and
naval forces of the United States to carry
these resolutions into effect the President
is hereby authorized to 'leave the govern.
ment and control of the Island of Cuba to
Its people, as soon as a government shall
have been established in said island, under
a constitution which, either as part thereof,
or N an ordinance appended thereto, shall
define the future relations of the United
Ststes with Cuba, substantially as follows
81. That the Government of Cuba shall
never enter into any treaty or other compact
with any foreign Power or Powers which
will impair or tend to impair the indepen
dence of Cuba, nor in any manner authorize
or permit any foreign Power or Powers to
obtain by colonization or for military or
naval purposes or otherwise lodgment or
control over any portion of said island.
'2. That said Government SHALL not
assume or contract any pubic debt, to pay
the interest upon which, and to make
reasonable sinking fund. provision for the
ultimate discharge of w.ich, the ordinary
revenues Of the island, after detrayiDg the
current expenses of government, shall be
inadequate.
SO. That the Government of Cuba con.
sents that the United States may exercise
the right to intervene for'the preservation OF
Cuban independence, the maintenance of
government adequate tor the protection Of
life, property and individual Liberty, and for
discharging the obligations with respect to
Cuba imposed by the Treaty OF Paris on the
United States, now to be assumed aud
undertaken by the Government of Cuba
"a. That acts of the United States in
Cuba, during its military occupancy thereof,
are ratified and validated, and all lawful
rights acquired Hereunder shall be maintain.
ed and protected.
80 That the Government Of Cuba will
execute, and as far as necessary extend, the
plans already devised, or other plans to be
mutually agreed upon, for the sanitation of
the cities of the island, to the en1 that a re.
currence OF epidemic and infectious diseases
may be prevented, thereby assuring protec-
tion to the people and commerce of Cuta
as well IS to the commerce of the southern,
ports of the United States and the people
residing therein.
"6. That the Isle of Pines shall be omitted
from the proposed constitutional boundaries
Of Cuba, the title thereto being left to fu
ture adjustment by treaty.
~. That to enable the United States to
maintain the independence of Cuba, and to
protect the people thereof as well as for its
own defence, the Government of Cuba will
sell or lease to the United States lands nee
essary for coaling or naval stations at Ger.
tain specified points, to be agreed upon with
the President of the United Estates.
"S. That by way offurther assurance the
Government of Cuba will embody the
foregoing provisions in a pernapent treaty
with the United States.n
1t is now for Cuba to say whether or not
ir will accept these terms. They certainly
appear to be reasonable, and, if accepted,
the Cuban question is solved, with credit
and honor alike to that Island aud to the
United States.