New-York tribune., 1901-06-03
NO EXTRA SESSION LIKELY
INSULAR PLANS NOW PRACTICALLY SET
TLED-TO HASTEN CUBAN DECISION.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

IBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl
Washington. June AT this juncture there
is absolutely probability of the President
calling extra session OF Congress to deal
with Cuba the Philippines This statement
is based upon a comprehensive knowledge of
the situation both as to Cuba and the Philip
pines and from a source whose trust
worthiness is unquestionabe. In spite of the
reasonable certainty. however. of there being
extra session. il may be expected that much
speculation on this question will be lndulged by
the newspapers and by poorly informed mem
bers of Congress long as the Cuban question
remains unsettled and until official an
nouncement is made of the governments Phil
ppne policy in response to the popular call
for explanation of the bearing of the SUI
preme Courts insular decisions the status OF
the Philippines
AS heretofore stated by The Tribune. it is
thought that at the Cabinet meeting on next
Tuesday Acknowledgement Knox will submit
for discussion a result of his study of the
courts decisions. and that by this the President
and his advisers largely will be governed in
reaching a concluion which will be communi-
Gated in some form to the public.
There is no likelihood. however that the At
torney- General Will advise any change of policy
in respect to the Philippines. On the contrary,
II IS confidently expected that he will advise the
President and Cabinet that the course mapped
out by the last Congress for the administration
Of the Philippines is In harmony with the broad
spirit of the Supreme Courts decisions in the
Porto Rican cases. even though he recognizes
that by the terms of the cession the Philippines
do not occupy the same status Porto Rico.
Hence, il can he safely concluded that the work
cut out for the Taft Commission will he carried
on at Manila and approved at Washington Just
1t would have been if the Supreme Court had
not passed upon any of the suits brought to
break down the governments colonial policy.
and that the Treasury Department will continue
to collect duties imports from the Philippines.
CUBANs MUST TAKE ACTION.
At its meeting Tuesday the Cabinet is not
expected to deal extensively with the Cuban
question That question was settled for the
present at the Cabinet meeting on last Friday.
when the Secretary Of War was instructed to
inform the Cuban Constitutional Convention
through Governor General Wood that the con-
vention had not substantially conformed 10 the
provisions Of the Platt amendment. There is
room for doubt that long as the Cub0ns hold
out against the terms of the act Of Congress
known as the Patt amendment this government
VIII continue to exercise its military authority
in the island without furher explanation
apology
II IS believed that when the Cuban politicians
and officeseekers learn that they cannot hold
their first general election for the organization
of their government until the Platt amendment
without any notifications or Interpretations"
becomes a part Of the organic law Of the island
they wifi urge It's speedy adoption upon the Con
stitutional Convention. At any rate. this Is the
firm conviction in the best informed circles at
Washington
phase Of the Cuban question which thus far
has been little discussed publicly. either In
Washington Havana. but of which much
doubtless will be heard from now on. until II is
settled satisfactorily to this country is con-
tatned in that clause OF the .Platt amendment
providing for three United States naval stations
on the island. Apparently the Cubans have
determined to handicap the United states In this
enterprise. far s is possible Their desire
seems to be TO make ridiculous this clause OF the
Platt law by granting to the United States for
naval purposes stations al remote and inaccessi-
be ports of the island and to leave the great
ports and fine defences at Havana. Santiago and
Cienfuegos unprotected. except by such means
may be adopted by the future Cuban Re-
public.
A MEANS TO HASTEN DECISION
While no formal demand yet has been made
by the government for the privilege of utilizing
these defences it is thought that in the instruc-
tons the Secretary of War on Saturday sent TO
Governor-General Wood this subject was
touched upon in a manner that win bring the
Cubans to n realization Of this cOuntrys serious
intentions and ma tured purposes.
The Cuban Republic VIII have neither army
nor navy. 50 that the splendid defenCes left by
the Spaniards at the three places mentioned will
be utterly useless unless the United States is
permitted 10 occupy them naval bases for the
protection alike Of Cuba and this country. A
broad hint on this subject may give the Cuban
constitution makers excuse for further delaying
the completion Of their work. but il is suggested
that il will be better fight out all these things
than trust cher settlement 10 the
changed International relations that will follow
the withdrawal Of Urited States troops from
Cuba in compliance with the Platt law.