The times., 1901-04-28


mission has become Convinced of the
benefits to he derived from the adop-
ton of the PIatt amendment, the Of
f!cials here have also been satisfied that
something must be done to improve
economic conditions in the island
Yesterday afternoon the commits
sioners held a meeting at which the
Platt amendment was discussed, and in
which a document was drawn up set
ting forth the provisions Of the amend
ment and as the commission understood
the Administration would construe
them. 1t was urged by Senor Portu-
ondo that the commission should wait
a day OF two. and submit the document
to the Secretary of War in order, if
possible. TO be sure that the commits
sion had understood thoroughly the in
tentons of the present United States
Government toward cuba.
Regarding the facts in the document
as drawn up there was no dispute.
Upon the question 81 submitting it to
the Secretary of War. although that
move was strongly urged by Senor
Porruondo. there was disagreement, and
it was finally decided that there was
no necessity for the step. The docu-
ment is. however. codification of all
the information promises and eAplana-
tions which the commissioners have re
ceived since they came to Washington,
and they feel that they have something
which expresses the views of the Ad-
ministration and something which they
can present to the convention as an in
dication of what the Cubans are to eX-
pect if they agree to adopt the Platt
amendment. The Constitutional Con-
vention will consider the document at
Its first session after the commission re
turns. and the session viii be executive,
because, as a member Of the delegation
said last night we don't want to play
TO the galleries"
Senor Poruondo is one of the most
enthusiastic member of the commission
regarding the good results which are
expected TO follow from this visit to
the Capitol of the United States
1T is as if you had gone fifty feet in
reaching an agreement with the Gu
bans" he said. The Cubans can c, me
the rest of the hundred-almost. There
is only a little difference to be settled
now II You ask me whether the P.att
amendment as we understand it now
after having had it explained by the
Secretary of War and the President,
will be accepted. must decline to an
swer. but a great deal has been done.
The meeting this afternoon viii be
to make cut a document which will say
what we think the United States means
by the Plat amendment. If the Secre-
Jsry OF War approves of our under
standing then we will be able to go TO
the Cubans and say: This is what the
United States means. We want TO find
out what viii be agreed To by both Gov
ernments and it may be possible that
we shall get a similar document from
TIE Cubans, showing what they think
is meant by the Platt amendment
The visit Of the commission Will be
of the greatest benefit both to the
Americans and the Cubans. There has
been an immense amount of misunder-
standing among the Cubans of what
the United States meant by the amend
ment. 1 cannot say if, as we under
stand il viii be construed, it will sat
isfy the Cubans. but the explanation
which we have had here win help much
toward making ii acceptable.
i fear that, exactly as il is drawn,
and exactly as the United States means
TO apply it, it will never be adopted
There is still a great deal Of oppcsi-
tiOn 10 the interference clause, and es-
pecially to the clause about the reten-
tion by the United States Of the Isle
OF Pines-that seems to US to be per
fectly preposterous.
We have learned. however. since we
have been here that the optimistic way
OF understanding the Platt amendment
is the right way. We used TO pooh
pooh the people who advocated its
adoption, when they said that it would
not be used TO hurt US: but now we
see that it never will. We know now
that the Americans viii see only the
right side. and we have assurances
from all the officials at the head Of the
Administration that Cuba will not suf-
fer an injustice at the hands Of the
United States"
1T was not generally understood that
the amendment would not interfere
with the absolute independence of the
Cuban Republic; but now we are told
by the President that Cuba viii be
recognized as an independent power
That. of course. pleases US immensely.
l. the United States wants a coaling
station-provided she does not want To
exercise sovereignty over it-she can
have II
cuba win. on the other hand. give
every assurance that she viii never al
low herself 10 be used as a base Of op-
erations against the United States. The
Cubans viii not allow any other nation
10 use them ia any way. and viii fight
70 protect the rights Of the United
States. cuba viii always stand as the
patrol and the sentinel OF the Carib-
bean sea in the interest of the United
States For this reason it seems that
the request Of the United States for
power to intervene is hardly necessary.
After the United States has recognized
our independence, then it can have any
thing it chooses. I will not say an
neXation-but practically everything.
The whole aspiration Of the Cuban peo-
pie has been for independence. Give it
10 them end they viii be satisfied"
The commission spent the morning
visiting the President and Secretary Of