New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-05-15
RECIPROCITY WITH CUBA.
SENATOR o. II. PLATT THINKS A MU-
TUALLY SATISFACTORY AND AID
VANTAGEoUs AGREEMENT
MAY BE MADE
MAY BE MADE
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSE.l

TBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington. May Ex-senator Platt. OF Con-
Aecticut was in Washington to-day and had a
long conference with Colonel Clarence E. Ed
wards chief Of the Insular Bureau of the War
Department. That Cuba was the subject OF their
conference Senator Plat would not deny. al
though he refused TO discuss with newspaper
men the particular character Of the questions
discussed. II is believed however, that the new
tariff schedule for Cuba to be proposed 10 the
next Congress was the principal subject dis
cussed. AS chairman of the Committee on Re-
lations with Cuba. and author of the amendment
which bears his name. Senator Plat has had
more 10 do with shaping Cuban legislation at
Washington than any other member of Con-
gress, and naturally his interest IN the subject
is great. He said he had no further information
from Havana concerning the progress Of the
constitutional convention there in the matter
or the acceptance Of the Plat amendment In its
entirety than had been contained in The Trib-
une's regular and special dispatches. although
he had no doubt that the convention soon would
ratify the amendment. Senator Plat asserts
that the Cuban delegates who recently visited
Washington did not indicate TO him or. so far
as he knows. 10 anybody else In official circles
what kind Of report they would make 10 the con-
vention, but he surprised 10 learn that
they were deeply impressed while here with the
advantages offered TO their country by the terms
of the act OF the last Congress.
The Cuban delegates" said Senator Plat.
were made 10 understand that in every
of the seven clauses Of the Plat amendment
there is a guarantee of perfect and proper indie
pendence &c Cuba. felt confident that when
they learned this their objection 10 the amend
ment would be removed. And so look for the
acceptance Of the amendment by the conven-
ton at Havana"
MAY REMOVE A STUMBLING BLOCK.
Senator Plat said further that while no prom
ises were made 10 the Cuban delegates 10
changes in tariff rates between Cuba and the
United States, at the same time he thought IL
quite probable that some mutually advantageous
and satisfactory reciprocity agreement might
he arranged by Congress after the Cuban gov
erument IS organized No more important state
ment than this could be made at the present
time, because il is known in Washington that
the only stumbling block now in the way OF the
Platt amendment at Havana is the wish of the
Cuban mercantile and manufacturing interests
20 receive some authoritative assurance from
members Of Congress OF Senator Platt's stand
ing that a reciprocity treaty Will be one OF the
first steps taken by this country after the Cuban
government is organized. Therefore, as soon as
this assurance from Senator Plat reaches Ha-
vana it is confidently believed that the consti-
tutional convention will cease quibbling over
phraseology and techncalities and Immediately
adopt the Plat amendment. The Cubans then
can proceed with preparations for their first
general election. which VIII be held not later
than the first week in November, and possibly
the middle Of October.
The greatest care viii be taken at Washington
that no official influence be brought 10 bear on
that election from this country. so that on that
I'M
picious Of this nations aims and purposes can
have no cause of complaint. When the Cuban
delegates were here President Mckinley was
careful 10 emphasize TO them his desire that
no outside influence should interfere in any way
with the Cuban people in the election Of their
officers.
THE QUESTION OF NAVAL STATIONS.
II should not be overlooked that vital point
which must be determined before all the condi-
tons OF the Plat amendment are complied with
in the proper spirit is that Of granting 10 the
United States In perpetuity at least three coal
ing stations or naval bases on the island. II
has just been learned that when the Cuban
delegates We're here they let il be known 70 the
President and all other officials with whom they
conferred that they were unaterably opposed
10 the United States having the use Of any Of
the principal ports OF Cuba for coaling stations.
This means that if the radical element in Cuba
is permitted 10 have its way, when the per-
rnanent relations between the two countries are
finally defined such ports as Havana, Matanzas.
Cienfuegos and Santiago viii be excepted from
the list of places at near which naval bases
Tor the United States can be esta blished.
In view of the fact that the Cuban republic
will maintain neither an army nor a navy the
chief ports OF the island under this arrangement
will be wholly undefended and the fine FORTH
cations at all the points named will be Of no use
TO anybody. IL is believed that when this point
is reached in the final negotiations the United
States will insist firmly on the privilege OF uil-
izing the defences at Havana Clenfuegos ana
MatanZas as naval bases and viii positively
refuse 10 accept the Inaccessible and unstrategfc
points for this purpose which have been sug-
gested by various members of the constitutional
convention at Havana, including some OF the
delegates who recently visited Washington.