Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-04-08
CUBA ACCEPTS THE TREATY
RECIPROCITY WITH THE UNITED
STATES is ACCEPTED.

tary Hay Pledges That President
Roosevelt Would Call Extra Session
of Congress Before December.
Havana, March 31.-The treaty of
reciprocity between Cuba and the
United States, as amended by the
senate of the United States, has been
approved in the Cuban senate by a
vote of ~ to 4. This approval is abb
solute and is not hampered by any con-
ditions, the questionable time limit
amendments having been dispensed
with through the receipt of cable
message from Secretary Hay in which
it was positively declared that Presl-
dent Roosevelt would call an extra
e. session of congress before Lecembec
trst.
An agreement was previously reach
ed with Senators Bustamente, Capote
and DOLE, composing the majority of
the foreign relations committee, that
the Objectionable condition in the re.
port be eliminated. This was done
by the offering of amendments by 9TH
er senator's, substituting the adoption
of the amendments to the treaty by
the American senate for the qualified
acceptance contained in the original
report.
Final action was delayed for long
time by the discussion Of an amend
ment offered by Senators Sanguilly,
Tamayo and Recio, requiring the
house to pass upon the treaty. Sena-
tor Sanguilly argued that while the
constitution was not explicit upon this
point the representatives in congress
ought to be consulted, as well as the
commercial interests whose opinion
the committee had sought eagerly. He
cited the action of the United States
as a precedent, and said the commit
tee evidently was afraid the treaty
would be defeated If submitted to the
house. Senator DOLE admitted that this
was good reason and quoted the con-
stitution to show that reference to
the house was not required. The
amendment requiring the house to
pass on the treaty was defeated by
a vote of to 16.
Substitute Report Adopted.
An amendment to, or substitute for
the committees majority report, was
then offered by Senators Frias, Mon
teagudo and Betancourt. This applied
and referred to all the amendments
and recommended that the Cuban con
gress take action in reference to reci.
prOcity as soon as possible. This was
adopted as follows:
This resolution must not be taken
as an amendment to or a modification
of the treaty."
Senators Bustamente, Capote and
DOLE announced their acceptance of
the sub-report, while Senator Zayas
and another committee man argued
against it. The chief contention Of
the last named was the uncertainty as
to the action of congress.
Senator Sanguilly in long and i'm
FASHIONED speech against the ratifica-
tion of the treaty pictured the gradual
absorption of Cuba by the United
States, in which he said the present
action was one step. He argued that
it was practically disgraceful for Cuba
to be party to such scheme.
The vote was taken separately on
each section of the treaty. The vote
on the unconditional acceptance If
the treaty was ~ to 9. Upon the
recommendation of the committee was
10 to 9.
United States Minister Squires
says:
"The ratification of the treaty un.
conditionally is due to the assurance
of President Roosevelt that he will
call a special session of congress be-
fore December l.. This action will be
appreciated and accepted, by the Gu
ban government and people as an ad-
ditional evidence of the most sincere
friendship and interest on the part Of
the Americans, in whom they have
faith and confidence"