The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-23
Cuba and the Treaties.

Cuba and the Treaties.
The. permanent treaty between the
United States and Cuba, embodying the
Plat amendment. was signed yesterday by
our minister. Mr.. Squiers, and the Cuban
secretary of state, Senior Zanaldo.
The delay has been occasioned by the
of many Cubans to make in
terventfon by the United States In the
affairs of the island, dependent on the
initiative of President Palma, and others
wanted to have the treaties under nego-
tiation held up until the American con-
gress confirmed the reciprocity treaty at
the extra session in November, the treaty
requiring the Endorsement Of both house
and senate. President Palma's idea was
to have all the pending matters incor-
porated in one treaty instead of three, but
it is evident that it would have taken a
very long time to pass a consolidated
treaty. The Platt amendment was first
Incorporated in the Cuban constitution
and was a condition Of its adoption and
of the good faith of the Cubans and
was a recognition of the republic by the
government by whose action it came into
existence. The provisions of the amend
ment were further required to be en-
bodied in permanent treaty to give the
obligation the necessary international
sanction The clause of the Platt amend
ment to which the Cubans objected is the
third, which makes Cuba consent to-
american Intervention "for the preserva-
ton Of Cuban independence, the mainten-
ance of a government adequate for the
protection of life, property and individual
liberty, and for discharging the obliga-
tions with respect to Cuba imposed by
the treaty of Paris on the United States,
now to be assumed and undertaken by the
government of Cuba" The proposition
Of Cuba to make Intervention, as set
forth above. dependent upon the initiative
of the president of the Cuban republic,
was very properly rejected by our repre-
sentative. The president of Cuba may at
some future time decline to take such I'M
tiative and intervention by our govern
ment for the purposes indicated, althc
necessary for our own interests as well
as those of Cuba, would place us in an
undesirable attitude. The Cuban consti-
tutional convention at first denied the
right Of the United States to have any
closer relations with Cuba than any Other
country, and the United States was asked
to withdraw from the island and leave
the Cubans to unrestrained action. The,
4Lo% I, or111y "A I'D
vantageous to Cuba. They found tina
the aid and counsel of the great AM
generous American republic north Of them
which had wrought their deliverance GU
of the hand Of their ancient oppresso1
was eminently desirable, and that the con
ditions imposed by our government wer
the least and lightest possible considering
what the emancipation of Cuba meant t
Cubans. However the generous action G
our government as to the establishment G
the Cuban republic may have been MARE
by the enemies of reciprocity at a late
= date, the distinction of our government a
+ the author Of Cuban independence mus
, remain. tbs to be hoped: that there wi
be no hitch in the ratification of tn
Cuban reciprocity treaty by congress
:, November. There remain, besides thu
treaty to be acted upon, the question
Of the ownership Of the Isle of Pine
off the southern coast Of Cuba, and tn
= location of a naval station on the Cuba
coast for the use Of our navy.
That we have reason to promote Il
:, most friendly relations with Cuba is sci
), evident. John Quincy Adams, abo
: eighty years ago, stated the reason VIII
he said: Its commanding position, t
nature Of its productions and of i
"a wants, give it an importance in the su
Ie of our national interests with which tn
.e Of no foreign territory can be compare
K and little inferior to THAI which binds t
is different members Of the union together