Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-08-15
CUBA BREAKS PLEDGE
Bond Issue OF s35.OOo,O00 Re-
garded as Breach OF Faith
by Government.
Not Likely, However. That the
United States Will lnterpose
Any Objections.
Treaty Necessary to Make Plat
Amendment Effected May
Be Negotiated.

Washington, u. c.. Aug. 15.-Cuba
100000 which has caused so much dis
cussion. The United States govern
ment will not Interfere with the iinan-
cial affairs of the island as far as this
loan is concerned but at the same time
il considers Cuba's action Violation
of a solemn agreement.
After careful consideration the gov
eminent officials have come to the con-
clusion that the United States has not
the right or the authority formally to
object to or protest against the neso-
tiation of the Cuban loan provided for
in bill which has passed both houses
OF the insular congress. This does not
mean that the administration has
abandoned its view that floating the
loan will be breach OF faith towards
the United States.
The objection here to the contem
plated action of the Cuban authorities
in the present state of the insular
treasury is just as strong as ever. but
Tie llttS CollNi ilSSii
that for technical reasons of interla-
tional law it cannot interfere with Gu
ba's purpose.
The noted Plat amendment, accepted
by the Cuban constitutional congress
and incorporated in the constitution OF
the new republic, provided, among 9th
err things, that Cuba should not UNDER
take any financial obligation or debt
If the annual insular revenues were not
sufficient, after paying the cost OF run
ming the government. to pay the inter-
est on the debt and provide a sufficient
amount to be applied to a sinking fund
for the ultimate payment OF the piincl-
pal.
AS it was known that there is an ex-
cess of expenditures over receipts in
Cuba, this government WAS much sur
prised when it learned of the passage
of the bill for the s35.000,000 loan. The
matter being mainly one of finance, the
state depart notified the treasury de-
partment, but Secretary Shaw sent
back word that it had no jurisdiction
and could do nothing.
After studying the Plat amendment
and considering the case plainly the
principal officials of the administration,
including the president, it is under
stood, have reached the conclusion that
the provisions of the 1'latt amendment
can be made binding upon Cuba in her
relations with the United States only
by a treaty ratified by the senate and
proclaimed by the president. The Platt
amendment, as embodied in the Cuban
constitution, provides that it's provis-
ions shall be incorporated in a treaty
between the United States and Cuba
hut no such treaty has been negotiated
The administration holds that the
United States has no right to demand
that Cuba shall conform TO the terms of
it's constitution. That is a purely do
nestle instrument with which the
United States has nothing to do. So
long as the constitutional provisions
against floating bonds when there is not
enough money in the Cuban treasury to
pay the interest on them or TO estab-
lish sinking fund is not embodied in a
treaty with the United States this gov
eminent can not, according to the con-
clusion reached, object to the negotia-
ton of the loan. Efforts will be made at
once to negotiate treaty.