Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-04-26
Expects an Understanding.

1.-THE object of my hurried visit here is
to introduce the five members of the special
commission on foreign relations appointed
by the Cuban constitutional convention to
President Mckinley. The members of the
commission represent all the different
groups of Cubans composing the constitu-
tional convention. They have come to the
United States for the purpose of comforting
With President Mckinley on matters which
the convention does not thoroughly under
stand, and when they return and make
their report ! am convinced that there will
be thorough understanding on all sides
of the controversy,
Not Rejected,
1.-THE constitutional convention has never
voted on or rejected the Plat amendment.
This / can state positively. notwithstand-
ing the reports to the contrary which have
been sent to the United States from Ha-
vana. Things have been cabled here which
had not the slightest foundation in fact,
which described strained relations between
the representatives of the United States
and those Of the Cuban people. Everything
has been harmonious since / went to Cuba
and the convention now in session is a
Thoroughly representative one.
"Before the Platt amendment was
passes by congress the Cubans knew the
desires 6f this government on the issues
which the amendment contain, because
they were submitted to them through the
executive. Intervention and the establish=
ment of naval stations are the two things
which they don't properly comprehend.
and / think that when they are fully ex,
planned in Washington the only indication
Of a difference OF opinion will have been
removed.
Two Great Questions.
"Fhefe are really but two great ques-
lions yet to be settled. One Is the reduction
of the duty on sugar and the other Is the
passage Of the constitution. One Ia eco
nomic and the other political, yet. In a
measure, they are akin. After the const!.
fulton has been properly framed and
aaoRted the economic question will disap-
pear. as There must be great reduction
IN the duty on Sugar. Then Cuba will be
prosperous and Its relations With the Unit.
ed States settled gp solid basis. That VII
end the whole difficulty aud In "a hours
the country can be turned over to the rep.
resentatives chosen by the Cuban people
To-day all the departments on the island
are practically In the hands of the Cubans,
who have been Instructed as to how things
can be managed. and when the time arrives
all We will have to do will be TO take a re-
oeipt for the money on hand.
other Matters.
"At the request of congress rye have ac-
counted for every dollar expended in the
improvement OF Cuba since the military
forces have been in charge of the island,
and we hold the receipts for these eSpendl-
lures. There never was such an accurate
accounting demanded before. and It has
been compiled with. There was some
trouble in the post office at first, but the
Rathburne-Neely cases have been thor
oughly worked up and the men will be
brought to trial in May. The bonds of these
men have been forfeited and will have to
be paid.
while have said that everything has
been harmonious since ! have been In
charge of Cuban affairs, must however,
explain that 1t was impossible for me to
please everyone down there and especially
the ambitious and disappointed specu-
the mails to La Discussion on account of
2 earicature which was likely to create
trouble. Only one copy Of the paper came
TO this country and the editor Of the ma ner
was arrested. The paper was not seized,
as stated In the dispatches"