The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-24
CUBAN RELATIONS
SENATE COMMITTEE HAS THE MAT
TER IN HAND.
AN AMENDMENT PROPOSED.
MAY BE PUT IN THE FORM OF
TREATY.

Supervision of All Cuban Treaties
With Foreign Countries, THAT
Cuba Shall Not Undertake TO Pay
the Spanish War Debt, and tho
Leasing or Selling of Such CoaHng
stations May Be Desired to BE
Demanded-Thc United states Also
TO Exercise Sanitary Supervision
of Cubn.
Washington, Feb. 23.-The Senate Com
mittee on Foreign Relations with
a proposed amendment to the
army appropriation bill. providing for
the disposition OF Cuban affairs. The
proposition was prepared by the Repubn-
can members of the committee, and is
said to be satisfactory to most Of them.
The proposed amendment recltes the so.
called Teller amendment to the Spanish
war resolutions. and then gives the Pres
ident authority TO withdraw the troops
from Cuba, when in his judgment. the pro-
visions of the Teller amendment are
realized.
The propositions embodied in the pro-
posed amendment include the following
points:
That the United States shall have super
vision Of all treaties with foreign coun-
tries made by the republic of Cuba.
That Cuba shall not undertake 10 pay
the debt incurred by Spain In her war
with Cuba prior to or after the interven-
ton of the United States.
That Cuba shall agree either to sell to
the United States such coallng or naval
stations as in the opinion OF the Presi-
dent Of the United States may be neces-
sary to the protection of the interests Of
this country.
TO Have Sanitary Supervision.
That The United States shall have sum
client supervision OF the laws of Cuba, re-
lating to sanitation, to protect this couns
try from epldemics liable to originate
there.
The idea is that these provisions shall
he included In a treaty to be made with
Cuba, but that they need not be a part
of the constitution II is understood that
the draft OF the amendment containing
these provisions was submitted to the
President and the Secretary OF War, tnd
that they expressed themselves as APP
proving their wording.
The minority memoers of the Committee
expressed themselves willing to come to
an understanding upon these general lines.
Indeed, some OF the most important sug-
gestions were made by the minority. Sem
ator Butler of North Carolina being one
of the foremost movers In the matter.
They insist, however, upon many verbal
amendments. thus evincing a determina-
ton to aid in giving form to the provi-
sion as well as suggesting its general
tenor.
When the committee adjourned to-day
there was still important differences to be
reconciled, and the members separated.
with the understanding that another
meeting would be held on Monday.
Members on both sides of the commit
tee expressed the hope that an agree
ment would be reached but all said that
the proceedings had net gone far enough
to render It certain that the result would
be attained.
The Isle of Pines.
One prominent point TO which the COM
mittee is giving special attention, al
though that pint may not be emphasized
or even mentioned in the pi opos d amend
ment, is the relation of Cuba to the Isle
OF Pines. There is some disp tion among
the Cubans to hold on to that island so
near their shores, while there Is appsr-
United States to release that posses sion,
on the ground that the island was ac-
quired as a result of the Spanish war
There Is also more or less contention
over the exact meaning of the word
''pacifcation" as used In the Teller reso-
uuon. The resolution provided that tho
United States forces should be removed
from the island when 1t should become
'pacifled." Tho contention is that this
|. a hal ha In
tcrpreted, and may permit the United
States troops to remain for a long period
Of time
Apparently all the members OF the COM
mittee unite In the opinion that there
would be no possibility of Withdrawing
tho American forces untily after the cleo
tion. and installation of Cuban officials
under the new constitution.
There will be an effort to report the
amendment Monday or Tuesday as there
Is a general desire to have 1t become a
port of the army appropriation bill, the