The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-05-23
CHANGES ARE URGED
Cubans Not Yet Fully Satisfied
with Plat Amendment.

Havana, May 2O.-The committee
on relations of the Cuban constitu-
tional convention will submit major
ity and minority reports to the con-
vention to-day. The majority report
in an introduction quotes Article one
of the treaty of Paris, the joint reso-
luton of the United States congress
and the Platt amendment, and then
proceeds as follows:
"Inasmuch as Secretary Root being au-
thoTiZed by President Mckinley, says that
the Plat law has for its object the guar
anteeing of the independence of Cuba and
does not mean interference with its gov
erRment, or the exercise of a protectorate
or of sovereignty, and also that interview
tioA will only take place when independ-
enCe is endangered by outside powers or
grave interior disturbances. creating an
archy; and, inasmuch as Secretary Root
has said that the naval stations will not be
used for vantage points of intervention,
but emily to protect Cuba against foreign
powers, we report as follows:
THAT, in virtue of the fact that the
Plat law, in it's preamble, says it is full
fllment of the joint resolution and has
been adopted by congress with the princi-
pal object of establishing independence, We
de propose to the convention TO accept the
following as an appendix to the constitu-
ton
The first, second, fourth and fifth clauses
are quoted in their entirety. The third
clause has the following addition: at be-
ing understood that the United States have
the right to intervene TO prevent the action
of foreign power or disturbances causing
state of anarchy and that the interven-
ton shall always be the act of the United
States, and not of Isolated agents. The
intervention shall neither
eighty nor protectorate and shall only
last sufficiently long to establish normal
conditions. Said Intervention, il is also IN
GeFstsod, shall not have the right to inter-
fere In the government, but only the right
to preserve independence"
An addition to the sixth clause says that
the ownership of the Isle of Pines shall be
settled by a future treaty.
An addition to the seventh clause says:
TT SHALL be understood that the naval sta
tioas do not give the United States the
right to interfere with the interior govern
meat, but are established for the sole pur-
pose OF protecting American waters from
foreign invasion directed against Cuba or
the United States. Cuba will sell or lease
the necessary lands at points to be agreed
upon later"
Aa addition to the eighth clause says that
the government of Cuba suggests at the
same time treaty of commerce based
upon reciprocity.
The Minority Report.
The minority report says:
"The explanations given to the commits
sion in Washington show that the Plat
law does not express the wishes of the
United States. 1t was intended to protect
the independence of Cuba, but the wording
gives ether interpretations. The United
States are inconsistent in asking naval
stations, when the amendment provides
bat he oil N
eigp powers. Such a demand raises the
question whether the United States do not
consider Cuba part of their possessions"
The report of the minority virtually ac-
cepts the first and second clauses. For the
third clause the following is substituted:
That the government of Cuba subscribes
to the Monroe doctrine and will help the
United States to enforce 1t against other
- nations trying to violate it."
For the fourth clause the following is
substituted: Cuba does not recognize
acts OF intervention which are not in Con-
forrnity with the Foraker resolution and
the laws of the United States" ..
The seventh clause reads: Cuba will
maintain naval stations, handing them
over TO the United States in time of war"
The report of the minority recommends
commercial treaty based upon reciproc-
ity.
Causes Surprise.
The report of the majority has
caused considerable surprise. 1t was
generally believed that the commit
tee on relations would recommend
acceptance of the Platt amendment
on the basis of the Interpretation
given by Secretary Root, but it was
net expected that such additions
would be made to various clauses as
the majority recommends. A prom
ineAt Cuban lawyer said Sunday:
"INhe majority report is not an ac-
ceptance of the Platt amendment, as
it distinguishes intervention on diff
ferent grounds"
Tends Toward Annexation.
A person who is in close touch with
the Spanish government made the fol-
Lowing statement:
'n Is a fact, to which the attention of all
Americans should be called, that not only
Spain, but Spanish residents in Cuba-both
those who have retained their Spanish ma
tionallty by inscription and those who have
become Cuban by not inscriblng-are close
iy watching developments in this matter
of the relations between the United States
and Cuba This is question which seems
TO Involve more than the Plat amend
meat merely. III seems 10 tend ultimately
toward annexation. Spaniards here and In
Spain favor annexation, Not only do they
fear that any government by Cubans, not
controlled by the United States, would en-
danger property and even life, but they
alsS favor annexation because they believe
1t would restore the Spanish influence in
politics, because, with the alliance they
would make with the former autonomists,
the conservative Cubans and the Ameri-
cans who belong here, they would control
the politics OF the Island by an overwh helm