The age-herald., 1901-03-06
Cuba a Difficult Problem.

tion is still in session. It is a small body of radical politicians, thirty in number, who have little other busi ness to attend to, and they may stay in session a long time.
 It should be remembered that the conditions named in the army appro- priation bill not only call for a treaty embodying them, but they must also be inserted in the constitution or in an ordinance appended thereto. Action upon these conditions must therefore be taken by the convention now in session if the Cubans are to gain con trol of the island by securing the re- moval of the military government and the troops.
 The hot-heads in the convention are doing a great deal of talking against these conditions, but 1as the last one of them wants office, it it is prob. able that tl1e conditions named will be swallowed whole, trusting to strat- agem to avoid more or less than in the time of execution. We give these conditions in order that the readers of The Age-Herald may fully under stand the situation:
 1. That the government of Cuba shall never enter into any treaty or other com pact with any foreign power or powers which will impair or tend to impair the independence of Cuba, nor in any manner authorize or permit any foreign power or powers to obtain by colinization or for military or naval purposes or otherwise 1odgmcnt in or control over any DOT tion of said island.
 ?. That said government shall not as- sume or contract any public debt to pay the interest upon which and to make reasonable sinking fund provision for the ultimate discharge of which if the or dinary revenues of the islands, after de- fraying the current expenses of govern ment, shall be inadequate.
 3. That the government of Cuba con- sents that the United States may exercise the right to intervene for the preserva- tion of Cuban independence the mainten- ance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property and individual liberty, and for discharging the obliga- tions with respect to Cuba imposed by the treaty of Paris on the United States now to be assumed and undertaken by the government of Cuba.
 A. That all acts of the United States in Cuba during the military occupancy thereof are ratified and validated and all lawful rights acquired hereunder shall be maintained and protected.
 g. That the government of Cuba will ex- ecute, and as far as necessary extend, the plans already devised or other plans to be mutually agreed upon for the sani- tation of the cities of the islands to the end that recurrence of epidemics and infectious diseases may be prevented, thereby assuring protection to the people and commerce of Cuba as we'll as to the commerce of the southern ports of the United States and the people residing therein.
 G. That the Isle of Pines shall be omit ted from the proposed constitutional boundaries of Cuba, the title thereto be- ing left to future adjustment by treaty
 T. That to enable the United States to maintain the independence of Cuba and to protect the people thereof, as well as for it's own defense. the government of Cuba will sell or lease to the United States lands necessary for coaling or naval stations at certain specified points to be agreed upon with the President of the United States.
 S. That by way of further assurance the government of Cuba will embody the foregoing provision in a permanent treaty with the United States.
 Cuba is not far from our gulf coast, and our trade with it is large and will be larger. We send it lumber, naval stores, iron, steel, coal, coke and cot ton goods. AS affairs in the island are restored to normal and full condi- tions we will send there sugar mills, engines, blows, stoves and other man. ufactured products, receiving in re- turn tobacco, cigars, tropical fruits, coffee and the like.
 Very much of such an exchange will depend updh the tariff relations of the two republics, and this is a sub ject not mentioned in the conditions imposed by Congress. Cuba, however, needs low tariff on her products fully as much as we need one on our products going to Cuba, and satis- factory reciprocity treaty can be ar ranged, doubtless.