The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-01


Matter with HIs Cabinet and This
Is the Decision Reached-PIatt and
Lodge Insist That Every DOT md
Title BE FuInIIed-United states
VIII Continue to Rule the island
Until Cubans Comply With the
Conditions Imposed.
Washington May S1.-Tha administra-
tion has decided that the action of the
Cuban Constitutional Convention in ac-
cepting the terms of the Platt amend
ment with notifications and interpreta-
tions of their own was not substantial"
compliance with our terms within the
meaning of the amendment, and Secretary
Root will convey this intelligence to the
convention. The decision was reached at
the cabinet meeting to-day. The meeting
lasted over an hour and a half and had
been preceded by an hours conference
with the President and Senators Platt of
Connecticut and Lodge of Massachusetts,.
As the author of the amendment the
President desired to learn the views of
Senator Platt and also those OF Senator
Lodge. who is one of the influential
members of the Committee on Foreign
Relations.
Root Opposes Acceptance.
(By Associated Press)
At the cabinet meeting Secretary Root
took the position that the interpretations
of the Platt amendment contained in the
constitution adopted by the convention
and the whereases appended to it went
outside OF a fair Interpretation of its
meaning and were unacceptable. In this
view the cabinet concurred. When ask
ed as to what would be the next step of
the government, after the Cuban conven-
tion had been notified of the rejection of
It's action, one of the members OF tile
cabinet said that the government could
do nothing further until the convention
again acted; that as long as the condi-
tions of the Platt amendment were on the
statute books, compliance with them must
precede our REIMBURSEMENT of control
over the island.
The cabinet held that the amendments
and interpreta ations and the wealth
OF weherases placed by the Gu
ban convention upon the Cuban
amendment, amounted 20 prac-
tfcal modification Of the Platt sanend-
ment. such as was beyond the power OF
NA'AS SCNCi 70 accept. Inc message
or rejection sent to Gen. Wood advises
the Cubans in unqualified language that
there is no power resting in the United
States government TO change the terms OF
the Platt amendment. and that this gov.
ernment insists on the acceptance of the
Platt amendment without amendment or
qualification The Cuban convention is
still in session. and the message of re-
lection will be delivered to 1t Immediately
Nha I'D aft,fe t,-o.f f1,, l.
Cubans will understand the exact attitude
of this government, and make a salts
factory acceptance within a reasonable
period
No Extra Session just Yet.
The cabinet was unable to reach any
conclusions as to the Philippine tariff sit
uation as affected by the recent insuler
decisions of the Supreme Court Attor-
ney General Knox will make a careful
examination of the languages of the de-
cisions at once and ascertain their exact
bearing on the tariff between this country
and the Philippines. He then will state
to the President and his advisers the pow
ers now vested in the government in deal
ing with this subject. There was little
discussion of this matter owing 10 the
general lack of clear understanding as to
the real effect of the decisions. Mr.. Knox
may report his conclusions on the subject
at the next cabinet meeting and probably
also will discuss the results OF his exam
ination of the opinions of the court with
the President individually. Meanwhile
discussion of the need of an extra session
was deferred as consideration of the ques-
tion of an extra session was regarded as
premature at this time. Members of the
cabinet individually refrained from even
expressing their personal opinion as TO the
possibility of Congress being convened In
extraordinary session.