New-York tribune., 1901-04-01
CUBANS MAY ASK CHANGES
SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO MODIFY PLATT
AMENDMENT.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNE.I

Washington March 31-It is believed in ad-
mnstration circles that within day or two
the Cuban Constitutional Convention will ap-
point special committee to come TO Washing
ton for the purpose of consulting the President
and Cabinet about modifying some of the pro-
visions OF the Platt amendment. Though the
convention at Havana has been discussing the
advisability of this move for about week, it
was not until yesterday that official information
the subject reached Washington If the visit
is made by the Cubans it will have 10 be done
within the next two weeks. The President and
Cabinet will leave Washington on April % for
the Pacific Coast. and will be away six weeks
1t is thought that the Cuban visitors would
want at least week ten days in Hhch to
exchange views with the President and his ad-
visers so if they desire to take up the subject
before the summer Is well advanced they will
have to come here by the middle of the month.
The counter propositions they may come pre-
pared to make furnish subjects Of interesting
conjecture here. The Cubans already have signi-
fled Willingness to concede this governments
claim to the Isle of Pines under the terms of the
Paris Treaty without producing the effect at
Washington which they evidently hoped it would
produce If they ask for the elimination from
the Platt amendment of the provisions for naval
stations and the right Of this country to inter-
will be disappointed. because the admnistra-
tion has neither the authority nor the disposition
thus to modify the act Of Congress defining
what ought TO be the relations between Cuba
and the United States. 1t is believed however.
that the visit Of the Cubans would be productive
Of much good in educational way. They
could obtain from President Mckinley and
others competent to speak for the government
assurances Of this country's benefcent aims to-
ward Cuba and official guarantee that neither In
spirit nor intent does the Platt amendment con-
tain anything that should he construed as
veiled purpose TO establish a protectorate over
Cuba in the meaning of that word in the inter
national code. With these assurances and guar
antees the Cubdns could return home and calm
whatever fear may exist among their people on
this score. even if they should not be able 10 put
a stop TO the political agitation being stirred UP
by the professional politicians who have personal
ends to serve.
At the same time il is thought to be possible
10 subserve the same object through another
device, which may make unnecessary the visit
10 Washington by committee Of the constitu-
uonal convention. Considerable literature for
publication in Cuban newspapers has been sent
TO the island IN the last few days by high off,
cials at Washington. This literature deals
frankly with the subject, and interprets seriatim
the provisions Of the Platt amendment. When
this literature has been disseminated In Spanish
among all classes Of Cubans. il is confidently
believed that IL viii have such a quieting effect
that the convention at Havana can with safety
TO the political future Of its members ratify the
Platt amendment. still. no objection is urged in
Washington against the proposed visit Of the
Cuban committee, and II the convention decides
on this course tomorrow or the next day.
seems probable. Governor-General Wood
may be instructed TO place an army transport
the visitors VIII he treated with marked official
courtesy when they arrive here.