The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-08
GOVERNMENT FOR FILIPIN0S
4 QUESTION THAT Is NOW OCCUPY.
ING THE PRESIDENTS ATTENTION.
Order to BE Promulgated Soon-Field
and Coast Artillery Organizations
All Volunteers Coming Home.

IN session over two hours to-day, discussing
the Cuban and Philippine situations. \
communication has been received from
Governor General Wood regarding the pros
pect for the unconditional acceptance OF
the Platt amendment, but its contents are
not made public. 1t can be stated, however.
that there is a hopeful feeling IA admins
tration circles that, after the first soreness
wears off, the convention will see the wis
dom of accepting the terms of the amend
ment. The answer to General Wood is to
be sent, and the language Of that COM
munication was under discussion to-day.
Meantime the existing status i'm Cuba is to
be maintained. No action looking the
calling of another convention is in contem-
plation if the present convention should fail
TO accede to our terms.
The programme looking to the establish
ment Of civil government in the Philippines
is being formulated in the shape of order
which is to be promulgated shortly. 1t is
said there is no definite conclusion as 10
whether the powers OF the civil administra-
tion will be exercised under the general
war powers of the President or the author
ity vested in him by the Spooner amend
ment. That however is considered matter
or detail The main point is that the civil
administration, which will be confined
largely to the municipalities. will be vested
in the head of the Taft Commission and
such other officials may be designated.
and that they will exercise their function>-
subject to the direct authority of the secre-
tary Of war; to whom all reports will be
made Civil administration under military.
supervision, such as is contemplated, Is said
not to be anomalous, and the CIVIL govern
Mexico
States during the early status OF the recop-
struction period are pointed to as being SUBJ
Stant1ally analogous 10 what IL pIOpoSeo ih
the Philippines.
During the conference between secretary
Root and the Cuban commission the secre-
tary wrote a letter TO Senator flall, OK
Connecticut, who introduced the PlaE
amendment, asking for Is views relative 10
Intervention as mentioned IN the third
clause of the amendment senator Piatt re-
piled and his letter furnished the COM
mission confdentiaily by the secretary or
war and was Incorporated In and MADE a
part of the acceptance of the Platt amend
ment by the constitutional convention. The
letter, however, appeared in a havana
PAPER and to-day was made pubic Dy the
War Department. The text OF the letter
follows:
Il am in receipt of your letter OF this
date, in which you say the members OF the
commission of the Cuban constitutional
convention fear the provisions relative 10
Intervention made in the third clause of the
amendment which has come TO bear my
name. may have the effect of preventing
the indepe1dence of Cuba and in reality es-
tablish a protectorate or suzeraisty by the
United States and you request That / ex-
press my views of the question raised.
In reply, L beg to state that the amends
ment was carefully prepared with the oD-
ject of avoiding any possible IDEA tnat py
the acceptance thereof the constitutional
convention would thereby establish pro-
tectorate or suzerainty, or In any manner
whatsoever compromise the independence
of sovereignty of Cuba's island. Speaking
for myself, il seems impossible that such
an Interpretation can be given TO the clause
/ believe that the amendment should be
considered as a whole and II ought 10 be
clear on reading IL that its well-def1ned pur-
pose is TO secure and safeguard Cupan IN
dependence and set forth at once clear
idea of the friendly disposition OF the
United States toward the Cuban people, and
the express intention on their part 10 aid
them, If necessary, IN the maintenance OK
said independence. These are my ideas.
and, although, you say, cannot speak
for the entire Congress, my belief Is that
such a purpose was well Understood by that
body"
The naval surveys which have been in
progress for some time along the coast or
Cuba have disclosed the most available
harbor for coaling and naval stations I'm
case these are established in accordance
with the Platt amendment. The eagle.
Yankton and Vixen have been conducting
these surveys for many months, and mOsr
of the main harbors are now completed
probably the most important points are
Cape San Antonio, at the extreme western
extremity of Cuba. and Cape A4saysi, at the
extreme eastern end. At Cape Maysi IL
has been found there Is "A reef running lar
out lpto the water. and that there Is 10
suitable harbor within abou. forty miles OF
the cape The Bay OF Nips appears 10
afford the most available harbor IN that
locality. At the other extremity OF the
island il has been found that Cape San An
tonic has no harbOrs of any kind IN its inn
mediate vicinity suitable for naval or
coaling station. This locality is regarded
as extremely important from 4 naval and
strategic standpoint. as x commands tbe
Yucatan passage. Most of the large mar
bors along the northern and southern coasts
have been surveyed and charted. those Of
Cienfuego and Guantanamo apparently be-
ing among the best on the southern coast.
These surveys have proceeded without any
reference TO thu political questions relating
TO Cuba although the work already accorn-
plished will be seryiceable when these p0lit-
ical relations are finally determined.