Evening star., 1902-01-03
ALI Steps Being Taken in Regu-
larity.
TREATIES NEXT TO Be NEGOTIATED
Essential to Prevent distress in
the Island.
CON GRESS MU ST, ACT

The Cuban electors chosen in the cleo
tions held last Tuesday throughout the is
land will meet February "a and elect a
president Of the republic. a vice president
and senators. The members of the house
of representatives were selected Tuesday.
When this is done, the military governor
of Cuba will proclaim the president and
vice president, and will convene the con-
gress, also setting date for the transfer
of the government Of the island to the
government thus established.
This transfer of the governing power,
however, does not mean the omplete with
drawal of the military power of the United
States from Cuban territory. There are
other formalties to be complied with be-
fore there is substantial weakening of the
military force now on Cuban soil.
The Cuban congress win assemble The
first Monday In April. Its first business
will be to ratify the treaty which the presi-
dent of the republic has In the meantime
entered into with the United States and
the withdrawal Of the main body of Amer
ican troops. 1t is thoroughly understo ood,
of course, that the United States flag does
not completely disappear from the island,
but will float from the coaling or naval
stations ceded by that treaty.
All the steps for the handing over of the
government of Cuba to its own people are
being taken in regularity, and so far as the
acts of the United States are concerned, in
accordance with the mandates of the Amer
lean Congress.
By the so-called "Platt amendment" to
the army appropriation bill of last session
the President of the United States was au-
thoriZed to leave the government and con-
troll of the Island of Cuba to its people so
soon as government shall have been es-
tablished in said island under a constitution
which, either as part thereof or in an
ordinance appended thereto, shall define
the future relations Of the United States
with Cuba substantially as follows
Then followed the eight stipulations in
effect that Cuba should never enter into a
treaty with a foreign country which would
impair her independence; that no debt
should be contracted or assumed which the
revenues OF the island would be inadequate
to discharge, that Cuba should consent for
the United States to intervene to preserve
the independence Of the island; that the
acts of the military temporary government
should be ratified; that existing sanitary
plans should be carried out as far as pos-
sible: that the title to the Isle of Pines
should be determined by future treaty
that the government of Cuba should sell or
lease to the United States LANDS necessary
for coaling or naval stations; that by way
the foregoing provisions In a permanent
treaty with the United States.
stipul9tions FuldIled.
These stipulations have been fulfilled by
the Cubans. The constitutional convention,
by which the new republic was created,
adopted an ordinance June 12 last, making
provisions identical with those quoted above
a part of the constitution.
The Cubans, therefore, when they have
organized their government, February "a
will have complied with every term imposed
by the United States as condition prece-
dent to leaving the government and control
OF the island to it's own people. After the
treaty has been made the military forces
OF this country will have to retire to the
coal and naval stations therein provided
for, and which treaty will be made by the
president of Cuba and the President of the
United States, and ratified by the senates
Of the respective countries.
A Treaty of Commerce.
The next step for the establishment of
complete relations Of amity between the
two governments will be the negotiation of
treaty Of commerce. The situation leaves
the Cubans no room to use the concession
of naval stations to trade upon in the ne
gotiation of the commercial treaty. The
bargain was that the granting Of naval
stations should be part of the condition
ernment Of the island to the Cubans
The making Of a treaty of commerce is
regarded as Of the utmost Importance. Sec
retary Root, in his annual report, declared
that THE chief apparent. obstacle to the
future prosperity of the island is to be
found In its commercial relations with the
United States and the necessity Of securing
some reciprocal arrangement under which
concession shall be made from the tariff
duties now imposed by the United States
upon the principal Cuban products"
The Secretary has set forth at length the
reasons which, in his opinion, make the ne
got1atton of such a treaty absolutely es-
sent1al to preventing widespread distress
in the island. President Roosevelt has in
&orsed his recommendations for conces-
sions to the Cubans.
Unless Assistance fs Rendered.
In other quarters it is further alleged
that unless assistance is rendered a condi-
ton of affairs will result in Cuba which
must inevitably react to the detriment of
the interests of the United States.
Opposed to the suggested concessions,
however, is strong faction in Congress
The high protectionists of the eastern
states and some republicans from the west
ern states are averse to giving Cuban su-
gar and tobacco an advantage over the
American products. The iquestion will be
fought out In the Senate and powerful
pressure will be exerfed both for and
against the reciprocal arrangement recon-
mended by the executive branch of the
government.
Denied by SecPetary8 Long.