New-York tribune., 1902-08-20
NO PROMISE TO CUBANS.
MKINLEY SAID ONLY THAT He WOULD
RECOMMEND RECIPROCITY
rBv TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE-I


Washington Aug. I9.-On the authority OF
man thoroughIy conversant with all the facts,
il can be stated that President Mckinley. con-
trary 10 all reports that are now being ctrcu-
lated persistentIy. did not promise 10 the Gu
bans reciprocity in the sense IN which that word
IS being used at present While the late Presl-
dent was committed 10 the reciprocity policy
as applied 20 Cuba, which his successor IS try
ing 10 carry out. and. in fact. conceived II. Mr..
Mckinley did not assure the Cubans who called
upon him IN Washington in the name OF the
Cuban Constitutional Convention little over a
year ago, that reciprocal trade arrangement
would be made with their government IN con-
sideration Of the Platt amendment being incor-
porated n the Cuban constitution. All Nj Nc
Kin,ey did on that occasion was TO tell the
Cuban visitors that he would recommend recip-
rocaI trade relations with Cuba II his next an
nual message 20 Congress. and that ne would
exert his fun power and influence upon the law
makers IN behalf Of reciprocity Only very
few persons besides the Cuban delegates were
present at the conference at which this conver-
sation occurred. among the numbersbeing secre-
tary Root and Senator PIatt. OF Connecticut
Previous 10 discussing the subject with Mr..
Mckinley at the White House the CUBAN dele
gates had broached the matter 10 Secretary
Root in the latter's private Office at the War
Department and Mr. Root informed them that
he could give them no assurance nor make them
any promise. and that they would have TO TAX
with the President about 1t By appointment ne
escorted them TO the White House the next day
and when they asked the President II he would
guarantee reciprocal trade arrangement with
Cuba if their constitutional convention adopted
the Platt amendment Mr.. Mckinley, with char
acteristic patience and courtesy, explained to
the visitors that Congress alone had the power
TO make reciprocity treaties though he had the
privilege Of recommending them and that he
would exercise this privilege in the case Of Cuba
with unusual urgency.
The Cuban visitors fully understood the situa-
ton al that time and while they may have IN
ferred that the Presidents assurance Of sup
port TO the proposition was a promise of re-
ciproCity in return for the adoption OF the Platt
amendment by their constitutional convention,
still the truth Of history demands the recital
Of the circumstances which attended the occur
renee which has given rise 70 so widespread a
misunderstanding Of the influences that induced
the Cuban constitution makers TO incorporate
into the organic law Of their government the
ordinance which binds them in iudissoluJ.e bonds
10 the United States. In other words President
Mcklnley's alleged promise could not nave
been understood by the Cuban Constitutional
Convention as any more authoritative than The
Cuban Congress could have UNDERSTOOD t0res4-
dent RCoseveIIs recommendation 10 the United
States Congress on the subject OF reciprocity
with Cuba TO be
The only difference between the assurance Oh
the TWO Presidents was that in the case or MI
Mckinley the assurance was given priFdteiy'
while Jhat of Mr.. Roosevelt was given pUDLe4y
and officially. Moreover. President Mckinley
told the CUBAN delegates that there probably
ZJo1JId he some trouble over reciprocity in Con
gress when he recommended IL, 50 that II can
not be Justly claimed that had not the CUBAN
Constitutional Convention been made TO beheEe
that reciprocity was assured 10 the island the
pIat+ amendment never would have been adopt
ed The fact is. the Platt amendment proVided
49, ,1rrU that act was made part Of the
C,T,ban constitution this countrys military oc-
cuDancy OF the island would not cease, and II
11rdou btedly was the desire Of the Cuhans 10
pet speedy control that induced the ConsJtU-
Tional Convention to adopt the Platt amend
ment .s-z s-.;
HE because Of the repeated assertions N the
nress both of this country and Of Cuba that
prIv for President McKinleys guarantee Of I'M
rre5iate reciprocal trade arrangements the Gu
hans would not have bound themselves TO the
United States through the Platt amendment