The Minneapolis journal., 1901-06-01
It's Circulation Goes
Into the Homes.
THE JOURNAL ALSO
LEADS IN PAID
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
EVASlVE CUBANS

IL was supposed from the cabled report
of the majority of the delegates of the
Cuban constitutional convention that the
terms of the government embodied in the
Platt amendment had been accepted with
some tropical verbiage intended to please
the Cuban pride and make the surrender
appear like a condescension. 1t appears,
however, that Secretary Root has received
the full text of the Cuban acceptance
and it is not in sufficient accord with the
administrators terms to receive recog-
milton, and at the cabinet meeting yes
terday it was decided that the government
could not accept the action of the con-
stitutional convention.
This action is perfectly proper for the
terms offered by the United States are
most liberal and there is not the slightest
necessity to modify them The Cubans
in their acceptance deny outright the
right of the United States to protect or
intervene in any way, and, at the same
time, declare that the United States is
expected to intervene in case of foreign
invasion of the island OF insular anarchy:
- ~-~J ~OASAy Win lAC pIODOSlIIOn 10
transfer sites on the island for naval
coaling- stations, provided Cuba is pro-
tected when necessity arises, as from for
eign menace.
This, of course, is rather contradictory
and the contradiction should disappear
from the acceptance. The government
expects the Cubans to accept the terms
without even seeming modification. In
their acceptance the Cubans make a re-
ciprocity treaty condition of accepting
the terms, although the PIatt amendment
said nothing about reciprocity. That de-
mand was based on the fact that when
the conventions committee visited Wash
ington, the president promised to recon-
mend to congress the appointment of
commission to consider reciprocity while
declining to recommend direct action by
congress in advance of the organization
Of a responsible Cuban government
This is as far as the president was Jus
titled in acting upon the request of the
Cubens. Reciprocity, indeed, can only
be obtained through the concurrent action
OF the two governments and delay in the
scceptance, unreservedly, of our govern
ment's terms, means delay in negotia-
tions for reciprocal trade treaty. The
Cubans ought to be able to understand
that, while our government is the best
and truest friend they have in the world,
and they owe every betterment of their
condition to the United States, the latter
cannot withdraw from the island until
1t is reasonably sure that the Cubans will
maintain a good and stable government
and continue the internal improvements.
the educational machinery, the sanitary
engineering, the efficient police service
through the island. 1t is shameful ana
wicked pretense of love of liberty for
Americans to try and stir up Cuban hos
tility toward the United States and to
execrate our government for doing its
bounden duty to the Cubans, the United
States and to the outside world. and prate
about the oppression" of the Cubans and
broken promises" on the part of our
government. The government has abso-
lutely kept faith with Cuba and it rests
with the Cubans to keep faith with us and
comply unreservedly with our mild con-
ditions of evacuation.