New-York tribune., 1901-04-25
PRICE THREE CENTS.
CUBANS IN WASHINGTON.
COURTESIES To BE SHOWN To THE
COMMISSIONERS
THEY WILL HAVE A CONFERENCE WITH
THE PRESIDENT TO-DAY AND DINE AT
THE WHITE HOUSE TONIGHT
Try TELEGRAPH To Tu- rn1RUxE-I

TRY TELEGR.P4 To Tu- TRIRUNE-l
Washington. April 24.-Thus far the five conn
missioners from the Cuban Constitutional Con-
vention have been treated with a courtesy in
Washington. both from official and private
sources. which appears to puzzle them. and their
reception has hardly begun They are TO be the
special guests of President Mckinley at the
White House tomorrow evening. and there will
meet some of the most distinguished men Of the
nation representing both of the great political
parties. Besides the Secretary of State the
Secretary of War and Governor-Cieneral Wood.
the President has invited TO meet them at din
ner Senator PIatt. of Connecticut author of the
law defining the permanent relations to exist
between Cuba and the United States: Senator
Cockrell. of Missouri; Senator Morgan OF Ala
bama. and Senator Daniel. of Virginia. The list
of guests will be extended to include Senator
Lodge. of Massachusetts; Senator CuIberson. OF
Texas, and other members of the Senate who
may be in the city tomorrow
The President desires to have at this dinner
as distinguished a company of public officials
as it is possible to assemble in Washington at
this time. He hopes by this means to show the
visiting Cubans in what esteem they are held
by him and the leaders generally of public
thought in the United States. irrespective OF
party lines. He will asO probably. be able TO
dtvest their minds of the notion that the Platt
amendment is the expression either of national
greed or of narrow partisan purpose, and TO
show them that. on the contrary. it is the asser-
tion of the entire Iawmaking power Of the coun-
try. If he succeeds in thus impressing the
Cuban commissioners. the President will have
achieved notable victory, for when they learn
these things it will require much further ef-
fort TO drive from their minds all the other false
notions concerning the ultimate aims and pur-
poses of the Platt amendment On the whole.
therefore. it is confidently expected that the
Cubans soon will return to Havana and report
to the constitutional convention that the Platt
amendment seeks only to give their struggling
young country the constant security and guard
ianShip of this republic.
The commissioners arrived here this morning
and by direction of the President We're met at
the station by Assistant Secretaries Hill and
Sanger, Captain Sawtelle and Lieutenant Over
ton. of the army. The party. consisting Of eight
members. was escorted to the ShOreham Hotel,
where they had reserved rooms by telegraph
The commissioners are Diego Tamayo, Gonzales
Llorente. Pedro Betancourt Rafael Portuondo
and Domingo Mendez Capote. They are accom-
panied by Pedro NJ. EntenZa as interpreter. NJ.
NJ Coronado, Editor of La Discussion" and Juan
P. Starting of ''Ei Mundo." Both of these news
papers are of considerable Importance in Ha-
vana, and will contain reports Of the commits
sion's reception and conduct in Washington. At
IL O'Clock tomorrow morning the commissioners
will be escorted TO the War Department by Gov
ernorGeneral Wood. and after brief interview
with Secretary Root. the latter will accompany
them to the President.
How long interview they win have with the
President at this meeting or the range the dis
cussion will take will depend wholly on their
readiness 10 submit in definite and detailed form
the proposition they supposed TO have come
here TO make They will find the President pre-
pared 10 meet them with polite but firm
fusal of every request which they may make for
a modification of any feature Of the Platt
amendment He will first explain to them elab-
orately the character and purpose OF the amend
ment. and will strive TO show them that, an
expression of this governments intentions, IL is
on plane quite as high and unselfsh as were
the war resolutions passed by Congress which
guided the President in the struggle which re-
suited in the emancipation of Cuba from Spanish
tyranny. Having done this, he will then inform
them that even If he were inclined TO yield TO
their plea he would be unable TO do so, because
the Platt amendment has the binding force OF
every law passed by Congress. and thus his
hands are tied But il is not believed that the
conference tomorrow will advance to this final
stage. for 1t is likely the Cubans will not have
their proposition formulated. II this proves TO
be the case. all the time they may need for fur
ther conferences on Friday. and if necessary
again on Saturday. will be granted to them
even though the President is greatly pressed
for time in order TO be ready TO start on his
Western trip next Monday morning.