New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-07-10
CUBA'S NEW CONSTITUTION.
CONFORMS TO THIS COUNTRY'S DE-
MANDS, WITH SOME CONCES-
sIONS TO CUBAN PRIDE.
fay TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1


Washington, July 9.-The War Department
has received an official copy of the constitution
of the Republic of Cuba, duly authenticated by
General Leonard Wood and the proper author
tiles. and the document is now being carefully
translated into English by the expert lingulsts
of the Insular Division Chief interest naturally
centres in the manner In which the Cuban con-
vention has Incorporated the so-called flatt
amendment IN the document. whether the trans
ation of It's terms made no material change III
its bis ding force and whether the convention
had completely fulfilled the stipulation prerac-
ing the eight articles under which the Presl-
dent is hereby authorized to leave the govern
ment and control Of the island OF Cuba to lts
people so soon as a government shall nave oeeh
established in said island under a constitution
which, either part thereof or In an orul-
nance appended thereto. shall define the future
relations of the United States with Cuba SUD-
stantially as follows"
It appears from the official draft that the con-
ventfon has formally conformed to all the re-
quirements. taking care. however. to do so with
the least possible injury to an aggravated con-
dtion Of Cuban self-respect. The eight articles
Of the Plat resolution which were enacted ny
Congress as an amendment to the last ARMY
Appropriation bill are not made "a part" or the
constitution in the of entering bodily into
its composition, but they appear IAN ordl-
nance appended thereto" following the Voiu-
minous articles of the fundamental law OF the
land without comment or explanation otner
than the simple title appendix"
AS further concession to the abnormal pride
manifested by Cubans most active In the poiltl-
cal machinery of Cuba. the last article of the
Plat resolution is Invested of infnitesimal
sting that never occurred TO the American Con-
gress as possessed of the slightest venom AS
Congress adopted It, this article read:
VIII-That by way of further assurance. the
government of Cuba will embody the foregoing
provisions in permanent treaty with the Uhted
States.
The Cuban convention has stricken out the
words that by way of further assurance" and
the article is left to assert with simple direct
ness THE government Of Cuba will etc.
NO OBJECTION TO THE CHANGES.
War Department officials were rather amused
than annoyed that the insular lawmakers should
have made this modification. which. however
appears to conform to the requirements Of this
government. and. instead Of detractng from
its force rather has the effect Of accentuatng
the necessity for a treaty. and places the obiga-
ton for negotiating it the United States.
Under the original phraseology Cuba, after MAX
ing seven declarations guaranteeing to suoordl-
nate most of its foreign and many Of its do
nestle relations 10 the approval of the United
States was put under obligation to embody Its
promises in a formal treaty to stand forever.
AS modified. the article. as interpreted mere
makes the delicate distinction, doubtless regard
ed by representative Cubans as extremely I'M
portant that Cuba having given seven promises.
should not be in the position of having 10 give
further assurances but should hold the United
States to the compromising promise or making
permanent treaty.
It Is recognized that the Cubans. from their
point of view. were justified in taking advantage
Of the loophole presented by the word 'substan-
tally IN the preamble Of the resolution 70 the
extent of evading the Incorporation in their first
free enactment Of an article making further as
surances'' essential to carry out seven assur-
ances already given. and the War Department
will raise no objection 20 the omission Nor VIII
the State Department shrink from the implied
obligation of initiating the negotiations for a
treaty as soon as a properly accredited Cuban
plenipotentiary presents himself in Washington.