New-York tribune., 1901-03-09
CUBANS LIKELY TO ACCEPT
ADNICES RECEIVED IN WASHINGTON
CREATE A HOPEFUL FEELING.
THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ADVISERS EN-
TTRELY SATISFIED WITH THE
SITUATION.
TRY TEL FGRArH TO THE TRrBrNE. ]

RT TIL FGRArH TO THE TRrBUNEl
Washington March S.-The news being sent
out from Havana does not agree in tone q spirit
with official and private advces received in
Washington concerning the progress Of affairs
i'm the island. There is feeling of uneasiness
in administration circles over the final outcome
il cuba. on the contrary. it is firmly believed
here that sooner later tha Cuban constitution
makers viii accept the terms prescribed by Con-
gress as a condition precedent to the withdrawal
of United States sovereignty from the island
after the Cuhans have organized a government
fully equipped it and demonstrated their ca
pacity t" conduct and maintain secure and
stable government
There is no thought in we'll informed and re-
sponsbe circles in Washington that the Cubans
will reject the conditions laid down in the Platt
amendment to the Army Appropriation bill
Il is pointed that they too eager TO
gani@e a government Of their own and officer II
{" delay indefinitely the ConsummatioD of this
important work by stubhornly opposing the
wishes Of the United States Until they comply
heartily. fully and in detail with the terms of
this country. the Cubans cannot even have a
trial at Self-Eovernment 1t is also pointed out
that if there had heen any considerable oppOsi-
ton IN Congress To the Patt amendment the
tuhans might think that the next Congress
would modify the terms imposed. hut the
Democrats virtually indorsed the programme
which the President is instructed to execute
they cannot hope to accomplish anything for
themselves In this country by obstinate conduct
or threatening agitation at home. Then too,
the next Congress is more overwhelmingly Re
publican in both branches than the one that has
Just adjourned, and il * confidently believed
that the intelligent and ruling classes Of Cubans
in
to understand hat Republican Congress
will not repudiate the acts Of another II the
succeeding Congress i'm either branch were
Democratic. the constitution makers at Havana
might be made 10 believe that the PIatt amend
ment would he modified, even ~ by SO doing the
Democrats responsible for it should thereby con-
denim their leaders ir the Senate who by their
silence indorsed the Covernment's Cuban policy
and refused To take advantage of the opportu-
nifty to force an extra session Of Congress
IN THE PRESIDENTS HANDS.
As the case stands now the President has the
Cuban situation wholly and entirely in his own
hands. The President can do nothing under
the instructions given him by Congress until the
constitutional convention at Havana accepts
the terms imposed. He cannot modify these
terms any way, nor he withdraw the
troops from the island Before the adoption Of
the Platt amendment II is held that the Presi-
cent could lave Withdrawn the troops, if he
thought the conditions in cuba would Justify
that course hut ne Is now distinctly Invested %
this discretion by the law directing him explicit
Is o. maintain United States military sarrisons
I'm the island until the terms have heen com
Piled with. II is not doubted here that soon
the leaders among the CubanS appreciate
fully the terms and mandatory spirit ~ the
Plat amendment they will realize the utter
folly OF holding out longer against the inevitable.
80 HARSH DEALING INTENDED
There IL no disposition either i'm Washington
or AZ American headquarters in Havana to deal
harshlv with rhe Cubans, on the other hand,
II Is desired that the Cuhans deliberate on the
terms prescribed by Congress as long as IL is
necessary for them acquire accurate un-
derstanduE Of them. There is feeling of the
utmost confidence here that the longer the
Cubans study the conditions imposed by the
PIatt amendment the better they will like them.
For this reason pressure of any kind will be
brought 10 bear ON the cuban constitutional
convention 10 act hastily on the requirements
prescribed ny Congress. Governor General
Wood has been instructed 20 explain 10 them
fully the character and extent Of these require
ments hut hc has not been or will he he di-
rected to threaten or Cajole them.
These phases OF the question were elaborately
discussed At the Cabinet meeting to-day. the
lines pursued being those set forth above. All
the latest adviCeS received by the President
from Governor General Wood were laid before
the Cabinet. and the conclusion was reached
that the so-Called Cuban problem was work
ing itself out very satisfactorily. There is
fear OF he agitation now going on leading to
anv UNPLEASANT relations between the natives
and the United states military authorities I'm
the island or of the conditions becoming such
there as To force on the President the necessity
of increasing the military forces in Cuba. This
means also that there Is no truth whatever in
the reports frequently sent out from Washing
ton that the Navy Department has instructed
the commanders of various warShipS in nearby
waters to hold themselves in readiness TO go to
Havana and other Cuban ports. In brief. the
President and his advisers are entirely satisfied
with the prospects in cuba, and are encouraged
to hope that when Congress assemblies next
December the President will he able To report
that the Cubans are ready to assume the respon-
sibilities Of an independent government as soon
Congress is reahN 10 grant II 70 thcln