Arizona republican., 1902-11-03

Washington, November 2-The differ ences between the United States and Cuba over the pending reciprocity treaties will be brought to a focus within very few days. The state de- partment received word several days ago that the reply of President Palma to the terms of the pending treaty has been mailed from Havana. and is now en route to Washington. Unofficial in formation is to the effect that Cuba has curtly refused to accept the terms of the reciprocity treaty sent to Hay ana several weeks ago. The plan of the administration will not be dis closed until the reply has been receiv- cd, although it is known that the pres ident is disposed to adopt rather radi- cal methods to bring Cuba to a sense of her obligations.
 It is known that the administration is willing to yield some of it's proposals in the reciprocity matter. but this will not be done until the Palma govern ment agrees to carry out the pledge of the Cuban constitution to permit the United States to establish coaling sta tions on the island. With this purpose in view, there has, within the past twenty-four hours, been a virtual shift of the negotiations from the state to the war department.
 This does not mean that the irrita- ton caused by Cuba's surprising re- lection of the Hay-Squiers treaty has put dangerous strain upon the rela- rions between the United States and Cuba, but it does mean that the ad- ministration is determined to hold Cuba strictly to the terms of the Platt amendment in the vitally important matter of naval bases
 There is no one who knows more about Cuban affairs than Secretary Root. It was through the bureau of insular affairs of the war department that the rejected commercial treaty was prepared. with the assistance of Generals Tasker s. Bliss and Leonard Wood. Gen. Bliss, who went to Hay ana as collector of customs even ahead of the army of occupation four years ago. is perhaps more intimately ac- quainted with the conditions and needs of Cuba, economically, than any other American. Indeed, it is asserted by q high official of the administration that Gen. Bliss knows more about what is good for the Cuban people than they
  dO themselves"
 Gen. Bliss not only was particularly active in the preparation of the reel prOcity proposition, but he also has all along been especially urgent in regard to the acquiring of coaling stations on the island at the earliest practicable date. It is understood that while Cen. Bliss, like everybody else connected with the negotiations, does not believe it advisable to bring any kind of force to bear upon the situation still he re- gards it as the part of wisdom for this government to be notably insistent upon the point of coaling stations.
 With the view of effecting an early settlement of this phase of the ques- tiOn, it is thought that a rather sharp note will be sent to the Palma govern ment in Q few days. through Minister Squires, calling attention to the need of the United States for naval bases at convenient and strategical points in Cuba, and reminding the responsible Cuban authorities that the Platt amendment is not only an integral part of the organic law of Cuba, but that it also is a statute of the United States directing the president to do certain lulISS when the cOnulllonS pre- scribed by that amendment have been compiled with by Cuba.
 The president has not yet withdrawn all of the military forces of this coun- try from Cuba. Several batteries of artillery still are statioped upon the island, both as 2 convenience to the Cuban government and d fulfllment of the terms of the treaty of Paris. There is no likelihood that, in the present un-