Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-24
AGREEMENT is SIGNED
Provision for Coaling and
Naval Stations.
MINISTER sQUIERs
HE TALKS INTERESTINGLY OF
CUBA.
Success Of President Palma's Admin
Observation-Disclosures Of Congress
and People to Americans.

Minister Squiers, who has been in the city
for the last three or four days conferring
with the State Department in regard to ma
val coaling stations and other Cuban mat
ters, returns to New York tonight and will
sail for Havana Thursday.
To Star reporter the minister, while ex-
cusing himself from discussing current
diplomatic and political affairs Of the two
countries. talked very Interestingly OF Cuba.
'It is nine months" he said, "since went
to Havana, and I consider my experience
unique since SO few diplomatic representa-
tives have the opportunity Of seeing an in
dependent government develop from the be-
ginning. The conditions were novel. The
circumstances in which President Palma
took hold also were trying, but you won
find any one now who doubts the success OF
his administration. 1t has surprised and
gratified everybody from the start. I think
the success has been largely due to the
peaceful character Of the people. From the
first good order has been maintained. and
while have made no specific comparisons,
don't believe that any OF our own states
with population Of 100000 would show
a smaller proportion Of serious crimes.
People Are Patriotic.
''Then the Cuban people have been very
patriotic. They were bound that their re-
public should succeed in impressing the
world and assuredly they have made IA
vorable impression. I might say that the
business Of the government goes on about
as it does In older countries. They have
shown remarkable aptitude and are getting
the credit which is due them for It. The
surplus in the treasury is one of the best
evidences of good mana cement. Then they
nllitp
their record in keeping up the standard of
popular education has been very gratifying.
That Is one thing they are all proud Of.
Generally I think you may say that the
Cuban republic Is growing In strength and
confidence every day. It is period of calm
now, and every one seems satisfied with
the government" o.
How are the Cubans and spaniards get
ting along?'
quite well indeed. There is very little
friction and very few questions arise be-
tween the Spanish subjects in Cuba and the
authorities. 1t Is remarkable the way the
Cubans and Spaniards have come together
under the new government"
'Is there much American investment in
the island?"
Eyes, and my information is that Ameri-
can interests are growing all the time.
think those who make investments are very
well satisfied, and they are encouraging
others. Almost every week hear of new
enterprises which are based American
capital. President Palma's administration
is very friendly to this class Of investors.
Occasionally added Minister Squiers, up
here you read of anti-Amertcan sentiment,
but really we find little of it in Cuba.
would not say that some instances have
been exaggerated, but at distance they
seem more important than they actually
are. Taken as a whole, the friendliness of
the Cuban government toward Americans is
reflected among the people of the island"
Friendlv to Americans.
'Is this the sentiment in the Cuban con-
gress?'
"Yes, think 1t is The Cuban congress.
like the Cuban government, is watchful of
what it considers the interests Of the Cuban
people, just as our own government and
Congress are watchful Of the interests of
evidences Of their friendship. In it's legisla-
tive work the Cuban congress is patterned
closely after our own nat onal legislature,
and it works about in the same way. There
are many strong men in both the House
and the Senate. While a few months ago
they were inexperienced in legislation, they
have settled down to 1t, and now every
thing moves about as smoothly as If their
Congress had had years of experience.
my position" said Minister Suuiers in
conclusion, has been a pleasant one, and I
have grown to appreciate the qualities of
the Cuban people. When they are once
understood there Is little trouble in getting
>along with them. 1t is best to be straight
forward with them. They are always cour-
teous and always open to reason. I must
again say that the progress aid the stabii-
ty of the Cuban government are in tSs
highest degree creditable, and should be
especially tiSfactOry to the people of the
United States'
Document Brought by Mr.. Squiers.
President Roosevelt yesterday signed the
agreement drawn under the terms Of the
Platt amendment providing for the acquisi-
tion by the United States Of a naval station
at Guantanamo and a coaling station at
Bahia Honda, both in Cuba. The document
had been previously signed by President
Palma and was brought to Washington by
Minister Sauiers. It does not specify the
the United States, and that detail Is left
to be settled by the usual legal condemna-
tory proceedings, after the Navy Depart
ment has decided exactly the amount of
land 1t wishes at each place.
Guantanamo will make excsiieiit naval
base, owing to the fact that it has har-
Dor big enough to shelter all of: the United
States navy, with absolute protection
against all bad weather, but 1t lacks rail-
road connections as yet, and there is no
supply of fresh water at sll adequate for
the ships. The port Is well toward the east
end Of the island, and so gives strategic
Bahia Honda is located on the north coast
and lies well west of Havana,t so that it
occupies a commanding positionf relative to
the Yucatan channel on the west end OF
Cuba. With these places properly forti-
fed as naval bases the Gulf of Mexico
would not be possible OF occupation by a
hostile fleet, and the Caribbean sea would
be unsafe for an enemy.
as the names of the places indicate,
Guantanamo naval station, will be the
more important OF the two bases and with
in short time there will be erected ex-
tensive coal docks, and perhaps a short
railroad will connect the port with the
backbone railroad already finished by
private enterprise. Bahia Honda will for
some time probably be used simply as a
place for the storage OF coal.
Possession of Isle of Pines.
Mr.. Squiers has cleared up admirably, and
to the complete satisfaction Of the State De-
partment, the important charges conaided
to him, with the single exception of the
settlement OF the possession Of the Isle OF
Pines, and that cannot be arranged here
He will undertake that settlement In Cuba
The Indications ars now that the United
States government will not press strongly
in that matter, although there are impor.
tant American interests claiming to have
much money invested In the Isle Of Pines