Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-02
Desire to See What Can be Done
About PIatt Amendment
NAY MEET DISAPPOINTING MT
Especially IL They want Any modih-
cation of Provision for Naval sta-
tIons-Secret Meeting.


believed In administration circles tha'
within day or two the Cuban consit'
tutional convention win appoint spe'
cial committee to come TO Washington
for the purpose Of consulting the Pres
ident and cabinet about modifying some
OF the provisions Of the Plat amend
ment. Though the convention at Ha-
vana has been discussing the advisable
ity Of this move for about a week. II
was not until yesterday that official In
formation on the subject reached
Washington.
If the visit Is made by the Cubans 1t
Will have to be done within the next
two weeks. The President and cabinet
will leave Washington April 20 for the
Pacific coast. and will be away six
weeks. Ii is thought that the Cuban
visitors would want at least a week or
ten days in which to exchange views
with the President and his advisers, so
If they desire 10 take up the subject
before the summer is well advanced
they VIII have TO come here by the mid
die Of the month
II the Cubans ask for the elimination
from the Plat amendment OF the pro-
visions for naval stations and the right
OF this country TO intervene for the
preservation Of peace and order, they
Will be disappointed because the adj
ministration has neither the authority
nor the disposition 10 modify the act
OF Congress defining what ought TO be
the relations between Cuba and the
United States. II is believed, however
mat the visit OF the Cubans would be
productive Of much good in an educa-
uonal way. They could obtain from
President Mckinley and Others compe-
tent TO speak for the government, as
surances of this cOuntrys benefcient
aims toward Cuba and official guaran-
tee that neither in spirit nor intent does
the flatt amendment contain anything
that should be construed as a yelled
purpose to establish protectorate over
CUBA In the meaning OF that word In
the international code.
win these assurances and guaran-
tees the Cubans could return home and
cain whatever fear may exist among
their people on this score even II they
should not be able to put stop to the
professional politicians who have per-
professional politicians who have per-
sonal ends to serve.
AT the same time II Is thought 10 be
| possible to subserVe the same object
through another device, which NAV
make unnecessary the visit 10 Wash
lngton by committee OF the constltu-
tlonal convention. Considerable litera-
ture for publication in Cuban newspa.
| pers has been sent to the island In the
| last few days by high officials at
| Washington. This literature deals
frankly with the subject, and interprets
seriatim the provisions OF the Platt
amendment. When this literature has
been disseminated In Spanish among all
classes Of Cubans, II is confidently be-
lleYed that II viii have such quiet
ing effect that the convention at
Havana can with safety to the politi-
cal future Of It's members ratlfy the
Plat amendment.
stu, no objection is urged in Wash
ington against the proposed visit of the
Cuban committee, and II the conven.
ton decides on this course, as now
seems probable, Governor General
Wood nay be instructed 10 place an
army transport at the service OF the
committee selected, and the visitors
VIII be treated with marked official
courtesy when they arrive here.
SECRET MEETING HELD.
Havana, April la secret session OF
the Cuban constitutional convention
was held today and attended by
twenty-five delegates. Among the alb
sentees were Senior Giberga, Senior Out
las and General Sanguily, strong sup
porters of the Plat amendment.
The first matter considered was q
resolution from the Planters assoca-
ton, recommending the convention TO
accept the amendment, with a provso
that the United States government
should make reduction Of so per cent
on Cuban exports or make a preference
in their favor over similar products
from other countries. The resolution
was tabled without discussion
The majority report off the commit
tee on foreign relations signed by
Seniors Gomez, Silva and Villuendas
was read. but after a discussion which
showed that majority OF the dele
gates were opposed 10 IL. a resolution
to lay II on the table was carried. A
similar disposition was made Of the re-
ports from Seniors De Quesda. Tama-
yao, Nunez and Giberga
motion by Senior Monteauguado TO
appoint a commission to go to Wash
ington was defeated by n vote OF IS 10
IL. II was finally decide to hold
public session OF the convention tomor-
row, when an attempt will probably be
made TO reconsider the action on the
motion.