The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-30
Why the Cuban Delegates Came
to W ashington-
Stumbling Block in the PIatt
Amendment is Removed.
TALK WITH M'KINLEY
Had the Effect of Satisfying the
Committee.
Believe Their independence
Soon viii Be Proclaimed.

New York, April 30.-The Cuban dele
gates visited Cen Brooke at Governor 5
Island and were much pleased with their
entertainment
When seen at the Fifth Avenue hotel
Senor Capote said:
There is no truth in the published
stories that Cubans found fault with the
expenditure OF the funds contributed to
the junta in New York Everything IN
that direction was most satisfactory.
The report to be presented to the con-
vention relative to the matters concern
ing which we conferred with President
Mckinley and Secretary Root has not
been prepared. We are working at IL
and do NOT expect to complete it much
before our arrival in Havana"
T. Estrada Palma called on the dele
gates at the hotel and was in conference
with them for over two hours. Nearly
all the matters which brought the dele
gates to the United States were gone
over and Gen. Palma's views ascertain
ed. There is reason to believe that the
question of a fitting candidate for the
presidency was brought up and that the
possibility Of Gen. Palma's selection
was discussed.
When asked for a statement General
Portuondo said:
A great stumbling block has been
removed. This is all care to say
What stumbling block do you mean.
Senor2" was asked.
Section of the Platt amendment"
was the answer. The Cubans have
been afraid Of your armies. They fear
what some call Imperialism Now in sec
tion 3, I think Of the Platt amendment.
it is provided that the United States
may send troops into Cuba whenever, in
the opinion Of Washington, such action
is necessary This provision awakened
widespread suspicion. Many said that 1t
was only pretext for the United States
o.
all time The presence Of soldiers, and
especially those of another people, can
not bue be onerous and discomfiting to
us.
Others said that although the United
States might Withdraw her forces now,
she could, under this provision immedi-
ately send them back again. This, then.
was q stumbling block 1t was perhaps.
magnified in the eyes of the common
people. and they demanded that if these
suspicious We're well founded. such a
measure should not receive our sanction.
that these suspicious were groundless.
When we said that by this provision
the United States had more jurisdiction
over Cuba than over any of its own
states, because in the latter case un-
derstand the national government can
not send troops into a state without the
permission of the state government, he
said:
Gentlemen, you necQ nave no IedI-
Troops win not be sent into Cuba unless
conditions are little less than anarchy
THE presidents answer so convinced
us that we could not but be impressed
with his sincerity"
How do the Cubans feel in regard to
independence was asked.
Ninety nine per cent of our people
the general answered, want independ-
ence- They win not even listen to an
nexation- They want Independence
absolute Independence. Now I do not
mean that the Cuban people are not dis
posed to give the Americans that they
the Americans-wiu need for their de-
fense. ] tell you that if the question of
independence is settled and all difficult
ties on the subject are eliminated. ev-
erything else can be arranged"
What do you mean by independence
Does not each state Of the United States
have independence
BY independence I mean sovereignty
We want to regulate our own interna-
tiOnal affairs. But our preferences will
be for America to help and support her
in case of need -