The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-05-02
THE CUBANS COHOME
Delegates Bid President Farewell
and Leave Capital.


commissioners made their farewell
call upon the President Saturday, and
expressed the hope that there should
be reciprocal trade relations estaL-
lished between Cuba and the United
States. President Mckinley told the
Cubans that the formation of a gov
ernment and the provision for politi-
cal relation with the United States
was the first question to be set
tied. After that is done and Cuba
has a government capable of making
treaties he will appoint commission
ers to meet representatives of the
Cuban government to negotiate a
commercial treaty.
This was not entirely satisfactory
to the Cubans. because it does not
enable them to carry back promise
that Cuba shall have in the future
either free trade or special benefits
under our tariff laws. The Cubans,
however, have been favorably i'm
pressed with their visit to Washing
ton, and they express their highest
appreciation of the courtesies and
consideration shown them by the
president. Secretary Root and the
members of congress they have met.
SeEor Llorente, who is recognized
rs enc of the ablest lawyers in Cuba,
expressed his admiration for the gov
eminent of the United States, aud
said that the visit to Washington had
made profound impression upon all
tie commissioners. They now realize
as never before the stupendous power
md grandeur of the American repub-
lie. AS they had Travelled through a
part of this country, and seen its de.
sc, opment, and here in Washington
had come in contact with the ma
chinery of the government itself, they
realized that the United States stocG
in the front rank of world powers.
and that Cuba, whatever her ambi-
tiens, rested under the projecting
wing of this great republic
Impressed with It's Democracy.
They had also been impressed with
the democracy of this great govern
ment. Accustomed to dealing with
an autocratic government like Spain,
whose governor generals they had to
approach with Difference, they cx-
perienced the contrast between mon
archy and democracy when they sat
down with the president OF the
United States and conversed with him
as they would among themselves.
While they have received no def
nire assurances from either the pres
ident or secretary of war, the com
missioners will return to Havana and
recommend the adoption by the con-
strtutional convention of provisions
substantially the same as those con-
tanned in the Platt amendment.
They have tried to find some way
of modifying the paragraph regard
ing intervention which would make It
specific rather than general, leaving
to this government the absolute pow
err to determine for itself what dis
orders should Justify intervention. 1t
has been pointed ont to them that
specific declarations would simply
place Cuba under the power and pro-
lection of this government in way
to destroy its sovereignty and make
Cuba as amenable to the federal pow
err as a state in the union. Tt has
been suggested to them that it is bet
ter for Cuba that this provision stand
as it is in the Platt amendment and
trust to the democratic spirit of this
government shown in its whole his
tory in dealing with the republics on
this continent that have enjoyed its
protection. This suggestion appealed
to the Cubans more strongly than any
other argument that has been made,
and they will present it az a salts
factory explanation to the Cuban con-
yention.
Leave the Capital.
The delegates started for New
York at II o'clock Saturday night,
homeward bound They will sail for
Havana Wednesday.
Gen. Wood also left Saturday night
for Florida, whence he will sail on a
government vessel for Cuba. Gen.
Wood had an hours talk with the
president Saturday. He did not care
to speak for publication of the re-
suit of the visit of the Cuban com
mission. beyond saying the Cubans
had been IMPRESSED with the treat
newt they had received and the at
tentions Shown them. and that un-
doubtedly they return with a more
correct understanding of the mean
ing of the terms of the Platt amend
ment and the desire of the American
government to put Cuba on her feet
as an independent government than