New-York tribune., 1903-07-17
CUBANS KEEP PLEDGES.
THE TREATIES RATIFIED.
PIatt amendment AIone Remains
To Be Acted On.

Havana July 16.-The Senate to-day ratified
all the treaties with the United States excepting
the Platt amendment treaty.
The treaties ratified were the signed on
February 16, granting to the United States sites
at Guantanamo ard Bahia Honda for naval and
coaling stations; the agreement leasing the areas
of the said stations, which was signed on July
2 and also the treaty conceding TO Cuba SOW
ereignty over the Isle of Pines. The only treaty
remaining unratihed is the so-called permanent
treaty covering all the provisions of the Plat
amendment.
The Foreign Relations Committee has not yet
prepared its report on the permanent treaty
but doubtless will do before the adjournment
of the present session of Congress, which will
occur next Saturday. 1t is of no consequence
to United States interests whether the latter
treaty is ratified or not. Securing the naval
stations is all that the United States has been
desirous Of obtaining.
In the ratification of the naval stations treaty
the report OF the majority Of the Foreign Re-
lations Committee was set aside. The majority
report recommended the postpOnement of ac-
ton, but gave no reason therefor. 1t was signed
by the chairman, Sehor Bustamente and Sen
ators Zayas and Tamayo. Senator Bustamente
was the most able advocate of the reciprocity
treaty at both times when it was ratified. but
he changed his attitude account of the
United States Senate's failure to conclude the
matter. 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 ratified this evening.
sANGUILLY's EFFECTIVE SPEECH.
Reciprocity was not mentioned at to-days dis
cussion which was not particularly interesting
or enthusiastic, with the exception of speech
by Senor Sanguilly. The latter opposed reci-
procity, but to-day he expressed himself strong
ly in favor of all the treaties which Cuba in
virtue of her acceptance of the platt amendment
is obliged to carry out. Arguing in favor of
the minority report signed by Senators Dolz and
Capote, Seflor Sanguilly said the ratification Of
the treaties was absolutely demanded by the
tional honor in order to carry out the solemn
compact in which Cuba was engaged by the ac
ceptance of the Platt amendment, and espe
cially so as except for the PIatt amendment
there would have been no Cuban Republic.
While there was no escaping from this, he con-
tinued, there ought to be desire to escape.
AS a member of the Constitutional Convention
he favored the Platt amendment, and would do
so again If II were necessary.
The speeches in opposition to the treaty were
brief and consisted chiefly of assertions that
the executive had not submitted the entire de-
teed to Cuba were insufficient and that the
treaty and the lease agreement ought to be
combined. Senator Zayas. the principal oppo-
nent, conceded. in conclusion. that it was GER
tain that the stations would be in the hands
of a nation most friendly to Cuba.
LITTLE OPPOSITION SHOWN.
Finally Senators Zayas and Tamayo withdrew
their signatures to the minority report and the
treaty was ratified by vote of II to 4.
There was report the lease agreement,
but 1t was taken up and ratified after some
minor opposition by vote of to 6.
The Isle of Pines treaty was the subject of
three reports: one in favor of postponement.
the second favoring amendment by eliminating
the statement admitting that the United States
had a claim? in virtue of the Treaty of Paris,
and the third declaring for unconditional ratifi-
cation. This last. the minority report was
adopted by votes to 4, after consid-
cradle discussion. The theory Of the opposition
that the United States had shadow of
claim under the Treaty of Paris and. there
fore, treaty was necessary. Senator Ca
pote responded that while the United States
had valid claim, the shadow of a claim eX
listing in the language Of the Treaty Of Paris
was effectually disposed of by the treaty.
While the inclination of the Senators to
postpone action to next session has been rather
general, the ratifications at the present ses-
sion considered to be largely due to Presi-
dent Palma's influence.