New-York tribune., 1901-06-08
A DEADLOCK WITH CUBA
IA VANA CONVENTION CTJR7y
REFUSES TO YIELD
no BACKWARD STEP TO BE TAKEN BY
THE UNITED STATES-PLATT AMEND.
MENT MUST BE ACCEPTED
WITHOUT QUALIFICATION.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE !

Il
washington, June AT the Cabinet meeting
to-day the chief topic OF discussion was the
pronounced hesitancy of the Cuban Constitu-
tonal Convention to conform to the Platt
amendment without notifications or so-called
interpretations" OF any of the provisions of
that law. Late cable dispatches to the Secre-
tary Of War from Governor General Wood were
laid before the Cabinet. These contained infor-
nation that cannot be regarded at all as reas-
suring of an early compliance with the condi-
tons prescribed by Congress for the establish
ment OF an Independent sovereign government
in Cuba On the contrary il appears that Gen
eral Wood has received from the Constitutional
Convention a decidedly curt refusal to rescind
the action taken by the convention in adopting
the Platt amendment with Interpretations
which narrow the scope and impair the force of
that law
At the Cabinet meeting a week ago to-day
Secretary Root instructed TO inform the
convention through General Wood that the
Platt law must be Incorporated without mod
ifcation or addition into the organic law of
Cuba. II seems that the constitution makers
either actually pretendedly have taken UNI
bragg at this, and vaguely hope TO make capital
out Of the incident through its being taken up
by the opposition press in this country and de-
nounced as an act of Imperialism on the part
Of the administration. Their expectation is, is
Is assumed that the next Congress thus
be badgered into modifying the Platt law along
the lines marked out by the redundant inter
pretations' adopted at Havana. There is no
likelihood. however, that the next Congress Will
touch the Platt law or do anything else af
fecting Cuba. The Cuban politicians do not
yet appear 10 know that the new national legis-
lature is more overwhelmingly Republican in
both branches than was the old one. and there
l-~a.
with respect to Cuba. Hence. unless better
counsels prevail at Havana Cuba's political
status when Congress conVenes next December.
will be Just what il was when the last Congress
adjourned with no prospect Of a change until
the Cubans comply fully with this nations re-
quirements.
CUBANS INJURING THEIR INTERESTS.
This would mean an indefinite postponement
OF the withdrawal Of the American troops. but.
worse still for the material progress Of the
island. It would mean that Cuba's industrial in
terests would continue 10 lag. Until there Is
regularly organized and equipped government
at Havana 10 deal with the economic conditions
OF Cuba cannot be improved through favorable
trade relations with the United States. In the
Nicely decision the Supreme Court, speaking
through Justice Harlan. declared Cuba 10 be "a
foreign country" For this reason the Presi-
dent cannot, in the exercise Of his war power.
grant preferential tariff rates 10 Cuba as he
can 10 the Philippines nor could a reciprocity
treaty be negotiated. Senator Plat, Of Con-
nectcut chairman Of the Committee on Rela-
tions with Cuba, authorized The Tribune some
time ago TO say that in his opinion Congress
would grant reciprocity to Cuba just soon
as the Cubans had government TO act for
them The President also gave similar assur-
ance to the Cuban delegation which visited
promised to appoint a commission TO investigate
the subject and prepare a reciprocity schedule
The necessity for close commercial relations
with this country is admitted by all classes of
business and professional men in Cuba, and this
fact strongly incines the administration leaders
20 believe that the Constitutional Convention
at Havana will come 10 a realizing sense of its
great duty and responsibility in the premises
HOPE FOR A CHANGE AT HAVANA.
At the same time. private report made TO
the President to-day by intelligent and
perienoed American just returned from Cuba
does not corrobOrate this view. The man re-
ferred 10 has spent most of his time in Cuba
for the last three years and is especially familiar
with the Islands politics and politicians. He
told the President that he feared the convention
as at present constituted would never conform
10 the Platt law. Naturally the suggestion is
made that three or four Of the radical
opponents of the Platt law may resign after a
while and permit their constituents TO elect sue
cessors who would be more amenable 10 sense
and reason. The supporters Of the Platt law In
the convention have let il be known in Wash
ington that they would welcome the issue which
would be provoked by the resignation of the
Radical leaders in the confident belief that in the
ensuing contests the Conservatives would win
and the deadlock in the convention would thus
be broken in favor OF the Platt law.