The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-26
TERMS FOR WITHDRAWAL FROM
CHA

/ Democrats and Republicans have
I agreed. it seems. upon the conditions up
on which the United States will approve
the constitution which the Cuban Consti-
tutional Convention has adopted and
withdraw from Cuba. he conditions
have been passed Upon without a d sa gree
ment by the Committee on Cuban Rela-
lions, and they will be made an amend
ment to the army appropriation bill. II
both houses of Congress take the same
view OF the conditions as the committee
that prepared them, then there win be
no occasion for an extra session of Con-
gress. But Will the Cubans agree to
them? There does not seem TO be any
reason why they should not. st Il, there
ARE among the leaders some who are dis
posed TO object to the United States
having anything to do With Cuban af-
fairs. and they may take the position
that the conditions should be rejected. II
cannot be possible. however that the ma
jority Of the delegates to the Constitu-
tional Convention viii refuse to apr rove
them. A refusal would mean the decay OF
self-governmeut in the island and dur
ing that time complications which would
hinder independence indefinitely might
arise. The adoption of the conditions by
Congress viii make an extra session of
Congress unnecessary. They contain
Congress instructions TO the President
II they are accepted 1t WI be the Presi-
yl.x4
for this government to do towards assist
ing in establishing on Independent gov
eminent IN the island.
There IS one Of the conditions in which
the Southern states are profoundly in-
terested. 1t provides that special eff
forts shall be made TO keep the cites of
Cuba free from yellow fever. The plans
that have been made for that purpose
must, as far as necessary, be carried out,
and others devised. 1t seems to be
tho purpose that the United States shall
be consulted in this matter. 1t is well
that it is understood that the keeping of
the cities clean shall not depend wholly
on the Cubans for they do not seem to
appreciate the necessity for sanitary reg
ulations.
The United States are to be permitted
to lease or purchase sites for naval and
coaling stations. and they are to retain,
for the present at least. the Isle of Pines
Why Cuba should object to granting such
sites is not clear. especially as the United
States undertake to protect her in her
independence. But if she should object
then the United States whl retain 20 $
sion of the Isle OF Pines and it wi afford
them the stations they want. II may be
that some of the Cubans will seriously
object to the provision which provides
that the new government shall not as
sumo or contract any public debt. It
would seem to prevent the issuance Of
bonds for the payment Of the cost of the
war against Spain. If all of the claims
of that war should be allowed Cuba would
have a big debt to begin with. No doubt
however some arrar cement will be made
for the payment of these claims.
The treaty which is to contain the con-
ditions cannot of course be negotiated un~
I'll after the establishment of govern
ment, but it is doubtless the IN entioG
that the Constitutional Convention shall
agree to the condit ons, and that they
shall be embodied in treaty just as soon
as Cuba is ready to exercise her treaty
making power. Ii the Cubans are not
yet satisfied that they are to have their
independence they are a very suspicious
people.