New-York tribune., 1901-04-17
VISIT OF THE CUBANS.
THE COMMISSION WILL, BE TOLD THAT
THE PLATT AMENDMENT CAN
NOT BE MODIFIED
GBY rE,ETRAPH TO THE rRIRuNE.l


Washington, April 16.-The President informed d
day of the contents of dispatch received from
Governor General Wood saying that the COM
mission appointed by the Cuban constitutional
Convention to visit Washington would leave Ha-
vana Saturday and probably would arrive
here Monday Tuesday. The President
has no more information to how the visitors
will proceed when they get here than has been
sent out from Havana in the press dispatches
AS there has been change in the situation
since the terms of the Platt amendment were
first officially communicated to the convention
at Havana by General Wood. ii is pointed out
that there really is nothing for the President
and his advisers to discuss. The Cuban visitors
will be accompanied to Washington by General
Wood. who will act as their host and cicerone.
They will have trouble in seeing the Presl-
dent but it Is not considered probable that they
can accomplish much except as good may ne
done by their learning that the executive de-
partment of the government is powerless to null
lify or in any way modify an act of Congress
The President directed by Congress to with
draw the United States troops from Cuba when
the conditions prescribed by the Platt amend
ment were complied with Until the Cuban Con-
stitutonal Convention adopts these conditions
the President do absolutely nothing TO
fore Congress adopted the Platt amendment the
President had authority to withdraw the troops
but he is clearly and Enthusiastically diVested
of that authority unless the Cuban constitution
makers accept the terms made by Congress.
PRESIDENT APPROVES WOODS COURSE
Why the convention at Havana does not un-
derstand that the Presidents hands are tied is
not comprehended in Washington 1t is known
that General Wood has striven earnestly to
make this plain to them and their failure 70
catch the meaning is attributed by some well
Informed public men who have recently returned
from Cuba to a desire on the Fart of the cabal OF
Cuban politicians to cast discredit the Gov
ernor-General 1t is therefore beginning to be
suspected here that the commission is coming to
Washington. not so much for the purpose OF
securing concessions from the terms of the Platt
amendment for the purpose of discreditng
General Wood II possible and thus securing a
new Governor General. But if this is their hope
the prospect of accomplishing anything in tho
line indicated is slim. The President has the ut
most confidence in General Wood, and is salts
fed with his administration. Every important
move made by Wood as Governor-General has
been approved in advance at Washington. 1t Is
believed that when the visiting Cubans learn
this they will return home fully convinced of the
intention to keep Wood at Havana Governor
General. and of the administrations inability to
modify any of the terms of the Piatt amend
ment. Having learned this. IL is confidently be-
lieved that there will he easy sailing in Cuba
thereafter and that the Platt amendment will
be adopted soon. This is based on the supposi-
tion that the President will not hold out the
visitors any hope of the next Congress repeating
or in any way modifying the Platt amendment
1t will be made plain to the visitors that the
amendment was not partisan measure. having
received the support of Democrats We'll he
publicAns.
1t is thought possible that the Cubans will pro-
long their visit well into the summer. The
President and most OF the Cabinet members will
leave Washington for the Pacific Coast soon
after the commission arrives here and with the
great pressure of public business him the
President may not be able to find the time need
ed to discuss with his visitors all the serious
questions involved. The Presidents party will
return to Washington on June 10 and then the
subject of Cuba and its future relations to the
United States can be taken up again.