Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-16
THE CUBAN SITUATION.

prevent THIS should be taken In time,
----------------------------
THE CUBAN SITUATION.
-------
It appears that there are three clauses
in the Plat amendment relating TO Gu
ban independence, which are partlcu-
larly Objectionable 10 the Cuban pa
trlots. one Of these is the section that
makes It the duty OF the United States
to watch over the island and interfere,
II necessary for the protection Of lie,
property and personal liberty, Another
is the one that suggests the cesson Of
the Island Of Pines to this country, and
the third, regarding the lease Of coal
ing stations. 1t is easy to understand,
on sentimental grounds, why the Gu
bans should object to this country re-
serving the right 10 interfere to sup
press possible rebellion, or In case OF for
eign attacks. Cubans naturally regard
themselves as capable Of taking care Of
themselves. But why they should OBJ
J'ti W tue lfHnlph vi Il hNAlt ieluHN CIV
the granting Of coalIng stations is In
comprehensive. Do the Cubans owe
this country absolutely nothlngnot
even grattudeY
II Is claimed that the Cuban leaders
expected the establishment of an inde-
pendent governmentand the withdrawal
OF the American troops, after which the
Havana government would have con-
sidered the most liberal treaties with
the Washington authorities. It is init
mated that under such conditions, the
most advantageous concessions would
have been granted freely. The Plat
amendment, however, IL looked upon
as blow to Cuban honor" The Gu
bans desired to grant all that the
United States could ask for. or more;
but not on compulslon. They desired,
IN fact, to have an opportunity OF show
ing the world how grateful they are
to the United States, and they are in
censed at being deprived Of this oppor-
tunity by the Objectionable clause IN
the Plat amendment. This, In sub
stance, is the cause Of the Cuban dis
appointment, as stated by themselves,
or their champions In this country.
II this is true there can be no serious
controversy with Cuba over the points
at issue. Cubans are anxious to grant
what the best and most mature Ameri-
can craftsmanship considers nee
essary for the interest of
both countries. The sensitiveness
that feels hurt because the de-
mands were set forth previous to the
time considered proper By the Cubans,
is too refined to bring to international
councils, whore as a rule there Is but
little regard paid TO tender feelings,
The chief point Is to reach perfect un-
Outstanding as to the future relations
between this country and Cuba. When
that Is done. II Is time enough to go TO
work and construct the government
that will be responsible for the mainte-
nance of this understanding. The talk
about lost opportunities Of showing
gratitude, is childish.
The stern fact remains that there Is
danger IN Cuba OF disturbances, that
may menace the new government. In
that case, It would be the duty ans the
right Of the United States to interfere,
II the home government should prove
too weak to maintain order. This duty
would be ours, no matter whether IT Is
recognized in treaties, or not That is a
right a strong nation Is understood
to have in its relation to weaker
troubled with lawlessness, or
anarchy. In an emergency the United
States would exercise this duty and
right In the Cuban republic, for the pro-
lection OF her own citizens and inter-
ests The Cubans may not realize this,
but 1t is nevertheless a fact. 1t is to be
hoped they will consider the situation
more calmly, as a graceful yielding ON
their part. TO the demands Of reason, Is
essential to future cordial relations.
The Plat amendment was rejected by
a vote Of Is to 10 IN the Cuban conven-
ton, BY this vote the progress was ar
rested for the time being, and that
without any apparent necessity. In the
long run the Cubans win have to con-
cede the right OF the United States to
make some stipulations regarding the
upon which the lndepend-
ence OF the new republic must rest And
1t is not to be presumed that Cubans
win be the losers. by following the ripe
advice of American statesmen.