New-York tribune., 1901-03-15
CUBAN OUTLOOK HOPEFUL.
SENATOR q. H. PLATT so CONFIDENT
THAT HE ABANDONS HIS PROPOSED
TRIP TO THE ISLAND.
IHY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrSE.I

TBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE
Washington March 14-Accordns to official
advices from Havana. affairs in Cuba continue
to make favorable progress in spite alike Of
press reports TO the contrary and of General
Maximo Gomez's avowed hostility to the ac-
| ceptance Of this governments provisions as
cor Edition precedent to the withdrawal of Amer
lean sovereignty from the island Senator Piatt.
of Connecticut. the author OF the provisions In
question reiterated to-day his firm belief IN a
satisfactory and amicable settlement OF the
permanent relations between the United States
| and Cuba on the basis Of the amendment 70 the
Army Appropriation bill which bears his name
So confident is Senator Platt of satisfactory
outcome of the negotiations going on that
he has decided not TO visit Cuba before the
next meeting of Congress, as he at one time
thought of doing. The Connecticut statesman
is in position to speak authoritatively because
he is chairman of the Senate Committee on Re-
latfons with Cuba, and is kept in close touch
| with Cuban affairs through both private and
administration sources.
| There is no talk in responsible quarters IN
Washington about this government making ma
terial notifications in any of the provisions OF
the PIatt amendment in a spirit of compromise
All reports from Havana. therefore, to the effect
that the Cubans have cause to believe that II
they hold out firmly the next Congress VIII
modify the conditions prescribed by the Platt
stress is laid or the fact that in the preamols
to the PIatt amendment the word Substantial
Iy'' is used in referring to the provisions. and
that some of the Democratic members of Con-
gress now in Cuba have probably called the att
tention of the Cubans to the hope of modifea-
ton which possibly abides in the word quoteds
but Senator Platt who wrote the preamble and
provisions, denies that there is any ground for
putting false construction the purpose or IN
.osr Of
word Substantially However. il is begin
ming to be srrnlised that the next Congress-
would not be averse TO yielding one innaterial
point if by so doing the Cuban constitution
makers could be induced to accept all the other
provisions This point pertains TO the Isle OF
Pines which is claimed by the United States
under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. out
which has been included in the constitutional
boundaries Of Cuba by the instrument framed oS'
the convention at Havana
1t is denied authoritatively that Senator Proc
tor OF Vermont has gone to Cuba on any miss
sion secret or otherwise for the adnnistra-
ton The fact that Senator Proctor is acconl-'
panied by Senator Cockren of Missouri, a DEM
ocrat is of itself considered sufficient refuta-
ton of this report, without any specific denial
from the government Senator Proctor went TO
Cuba mainly for rest and recreation, as we'll as
to gather for himself information which may De
of especial value if he is made a. member of the
Committee on Relations with Cuba in the next
Congress, to fill the vacancy caused BY the re-
tirenent of Senator Chandler. of New-Hamp-
shire
General Csomez's public declarations of hos
tilitv have caused no uneasiness in Washington
Those who know the "old Chino. as he is called
in Cuba are inclined TO believe that he IS talking
only for political effect 1t IS said tnat ne fears
he will lose the income he is now enjoying from
| serving on various commissions in Cuba If a.
| speedy change is brought about in the Island
| The money being drawn by General Gomez.
which is variously estimated at from SlO.OOO 10
100000. comes from the insular revenues With
/ a change OF government Gomez seems to fear
that he will lose this income altogether. unless
he does something at this Juncture TO make him
/ self so popular to be assured of election to-
some office. For this reason his reported threat
| enirg attitude is causing no alarm in Washing
/ ton.