Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-17

RATIFIED TREATIES
CUBAN SENATE HAS TURNED
DOWN PLATT AMENDMENT.
Our Government Secures Naval and
, Coaling Stations, but Reciprocity
Was Not Mentioned.

The following dispatch was received last
night from Havana: The senate today rati-
fed all the treaties with the United States
excepting the Plat amendment treaty. 1t
ratified the treaty signed February ID.
granting the United States sites at Guam
tanamo and Bahia Honda for naval and
coaling stations: the agreement leasing the
areas Of the said stations. which was sign
ed July 2 and also the treaty conceding
to Cuba sovereignty over the Isle OF Pines
The only treaty remaining unratified Is the
So called permanent treaty covered in all
the provisions Of the Plat amendment.
The foreign relations committee had not
yet prepared its report on the permanent
treaty. but doubtless will do so before the
adjournment of the present session of Con-
gress which will occur next Saturday. 1t
is of no consequence to United States IN
terests whether the latter treaty Is rau-
fed. The fact of securing the naval sta
tions completes all that the United States
has been DESTROYS of obtaining. The Isle Of
Pines treaty and the permanent treaty
were both carried out on the initiative of
Cuba.
In the ratification Of the naval stations
treaty the report of the foreign relations
committee was set aside. The majority re-
port recommended the poStponement OF ac
ton. but gave no reason therefor. 1t was
signed by the chairman. Senior Bustamente,
and the Senators Zayas and Tamayo.
Advocated Reciprocity.
Senator Bustamente was the most able
advocate Of the reciprocity treaty both
times that 1t was ratified, but he changed
his attitude on account Of the United
States Senate's failure to conclude the mat
ter. Although present at the opening Of to-
days session. he absented himself from the
remainder Of the sitting
Senators Zayas and Tamayo opposed both
the reciprocity treaty and the treaties rat
flied this evening Reciprocity was not
mentioned at today's discussion. which was
not particularly interesting or enthusiastic
with the exception of a speech by Senior
Sanguily. The latter opposed reciprocity
but today he expressed himself strongly in
favor OF all the treaties which Cuba, in
virtue Of her acceptance of the Platt
amendment, Is obliged to carry out and
arguing in favor of the minority report
signed by Senators Dotz and Capote.
Senior Sanguily said the ratification of the
treaties was absolutely demanded by the
national honor to carry out the solemn
compact in which Cuba was engaged by
the acceptance of the Platt amendment
and especially but for the PIatt
amendment there would have been no Gu
ban republic While there was no escap-
be no desire to escape. AS a member Of
the constitutional convention he favored
the Platt amendment and would do so
again II 1t were necessary.
Opposition Speeches
The speeches in opposition to the treaty
were brief and consisted chiefly of asser-
lions that the executive had not submitted
the entire details to the Senate; that the
safeguards guaranteed to Cuba were insult
ficient. and that the treaty and the lease
agreement ought to be combined Senator
Zayas, the principal opponent. conceded in
conclusion that it was certain that the sta
tons would be in the hands of nation
most friendly to Cuba.
Finally Senators Zayas and Tamayo with
drew their signatures to the minority re-
port and the treaty was ratified by vote
of II to 4. There no report on the
lease agreement. but 1t was taken up and
ratified after some minor opposition by a
vote of 8 to G.
The Isle of Pines treaty was the sub
ject of three reports. one in favor of post
ponement. the second favoring amendment
by eliminating the statement admitting that
the treaty of Paris. and the third declaring
for unconditional ratification. This last,
the minority report, was adopted by s votes
to after considerable discussion.
The theory of the opposition was that
the United States had no shadow of claim
under the treaty of Paris and. therefore,
no treaty was necessary. Senator Capote
responded that while the United States had
no valid claim. the shadow of a claim ex-
listing in the language of the treaty of Paris
was ehectually disposed of by the treaty.
While the inclination of the Senators to
postpone action on the treaty to the next
session has been quite general. the ratifca-
to be largely due to President Palmas in
nuence.