The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-08
Island IS IO BE- FREE
CIiNAToR PLATT'S INTERPRErA
TloN OF HIS AMENDMENT COW
ERING STATUS OF CUBA
EEETING OF THE CABINET
rTKINLEY'S ADVISORS YESTERDAY
DISCUSSED THE CUBAN AND
PHILIPPINE QIEsTIuNS
EARBoBs ON CUBAN COAST

WASHINGTON, June 7-During the
conference between Secretary Root and
the Cuban commission, the secretary
wrote letter to Senator PIatt of Con-
necticut, who introduced the PIatt
amendment, asking for his views reIa-
tive TO intervention as mentioned in the
third clause of the amendment Senator
Platr replied and his letter was furnish
ed the commission ConfdentiaIly by the
secretary of war, and was incorporated
INTO and made part Of the acceptance of
the first part of the Platt amendment
by the constitutional convention. The
letter appeared in Havana paper, and
today was made public by the war de-
partment. The following is the text of
the letter:
SENATOR PLATT'S VIEWS.
am in receipt of your letter of this
date in which you say that the MEM
bers of the commission of the Cuban con
sutuuonal convention fear that the pro
NlSlons relate to Intervention made in the
ihlfd clause of the amendment, which
mas come 10 bear my name, NAV have
the effect of preventing the independence
OF Cuba, and in reality establishing a
Protectorate or suzerainty by the United
states, ana you request that ! express
my views thereon. l beg to state that
the amendment was carefully prepared
win the object of avoiding any possible
idea that by the acceptance thereof the
constitutional convention viii thereby es-
laDllSh protectorate or suzerainty or in
any manner whatsoever compromise the
independence or sovereignty of Cuba: and
speaking Tor myself 1t seems impossible
that such an Interpretation can be given
TO the clause. believe that the amend
ment should be carried as a whole and
IL 10 be clear on reading that its well
dehned purpose is to secure and safe
guard Cuban independence, and set forth
at once clear idea of the friendly dis
position Of the United States toward the
fnfi
their part to aid them, if necessary in
Inc maintenance of said independence
These are my ideas, and, although, as
you say, | cannot speak for the entire
congress, my belief is that such a pur-
pose was well understood by that body.
Very respectfully yours.
20. H. Platt."
DISCUSSION BY CABINET.
The cabinet was in session over two
hours today discussing the Philippine
and Cuban question. A communication re-
ceiVed from Gov. Gen. Wood regarding the
Prospect for the unconditional acceptance
Ct the Platt amendment, but it's con-
tents are not made public 1t can be
sJated, however, that there is a hopeful
feeling in administration circles that af-
ter the first soreness wears off the con-
Nention will see the wisdom of accepting
the terms of the amendment The an
swer to Gen. Wood is to be sent and the
language of that communication was un-
Ger discussion today
Meantime the existing status in Cuba
is to be maintained. No action looking
10 the calling of another convention is
in contemplation if the present conven-
ten should decline to accede to our terms
The programme looking to the establish
ment of civil government in the Philip
l'ines is being formulated in the shape
of an order which is to be promulgated
shortly. 1t is said that there is no def
n te conclusion as to whether the powers
of the civil administration will be ex-
erciSed under the general war powers
If the president or the authority vested in
him by the SpOOner amendment That,
however, is considered matter of detail
The main point is that the civil admin
iStratiOn, which will be confined largely
10 the municipalities, will be vested in
the head of the Taft commission and such
other officials as may be designated, and
that they VIII exercise their functions
subject to the direct authority of the
secretary of war, to whom all reports
viii be made. Civil administration un-
der military supervision, such as is con-
templated, is said not to be anomalous
and The civil government in New Mexico
and the Southern states during the early
stages of the reconstruction period are
pointed to as being substantially anala-
gous to what is proposed in the Philip
pines
CUBAN COAST SURVEY.
The naval surveys which have been in
progress for some time along the coast
OF Cuba have disclosed the most avail
able harbOrs for coaling and naval sta
tions in case these are established in
accordance with the Platt amendment
The Eagle Yanl1ton and ViXon have been
conducting these investigations for many
months. Probably the most important
points are Cape San Antonio, at the ex-
treme western extremity of Cuba, ana
Cape Maysi al the extreme eastern end.
At Cape Maysi it has been found that
there is a reef running far out into the
water and that there is no suitable har-
Dor within forty miles of the cape. The
bay of Nipe appears to afford the most
available harbor in that locality At
the other extremity of the island it has
been found that Cape San Antonio has
no harbors Of any kind in its immed ate
vicinity for a naval or coaling station
I MS locality is regarded as extremely i'm
portant from a naval and strategic stand
POINT, as it commands the Yucatan pas
sage. Nest of the large harbors along
the northern and southern coast ha e
been charted and those of Cienfugos and
Guantanamo apparently being among the
lest on the southern coast These sur
Feys have proceeded without any refer
ence to the political questions relating
to cuba, although the work already ac-
complished will be serviceable when these
political relations are finally determined