The sun., 1905-10-14
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tpNe " srtsHfs M, 6W ria'lnns el'h
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femsih vague sHI indr,efmIrs'e NeHhrf
Nv hsf tonsiii Fiuh w the Plat Anend
mon, nv w ihr ifestv ~ iuiy l@ 70
tds et1hila,ei tram sssn'ins "a tnshah
el,isena w Fnslah sMta W ~ the c'is"'~
nnd ihits ~ y'Ief natiuw ire aa'ne wv
llrss- That sfc granted ~ The trNsd state
NV sm ! assf~ that ste " w treaty ~
agreement liriHffrd ffpiu sfahtins "ven
creator fiyiirsaa ~ o,hefa 'hsn shs a,
rutl- to ~ , p,rvisioh s mn'ir fnf trade
preference In favor ~ the tnitcd #n'F~
hv llr reciprocity rea,V ~ T'rtcml~f ig'
tUap upon the ssaufuislon that III"
I nl,cd States holds and may et"rcis" =
more W. lras definite ausrfsln,y over the
island " 10 difflcun ~ a~e j,p, What we
have w de- With tho Issue faiaed In run
hcc'ioh With tho Anglo.t n,wn treaty thn'
Nv 'ha, treaty Cula aeetna 'o give much
and "a got little IN his let,sf 10 tho Pte@i'
den, and Congress ~ the republic ~ Cuha,
datod May lo lp7 Preaident Roueveh
said ION the 2Wh ~ this month tho
military government ~ cuba viii, Wy my
dircc, ion. transfer ln you tho control and
government ~ the Island of Cuba Ia be
thcnopforth exercised under the provisions
of the Constitution adopted by your Con
stitutional Convention ~ on that day
promul gated
In the exerc else of hat transferred control
and under the provisions OF that 'ona'i-
tuition Cuba entered into treaty relations
with Italy. and Our silence was naturally
consent to the transaction. Exercising that
control by d fragrant violation OF consul
tutional provisions, she IL to issue bonds
for millions Of dollars, and our silence
gives virtual consent to that proceeding.
Exercising he same control and In accord
snce with the terms Of her Constitution,
she now PROPOSES to follow the precedent
Established by the convention with Italy,
and American interference and objection
become suddenly active, although tho
Anplo-Cuban treaty has been under con-
,ideration and in process for many months.
American objection 10 this treaty may
he based on what has been called "an un-
written law = to the effect that
Cubas foreign relations shall in no respect
be inimical to the United States or an
tagonstic to the commercial or political
interests of this country" A most peculiar
international complication is introduced by
proposals to exercise an "unwritten law
Of such exceeding elasticity and vagueness
in our relations with a Power whose SOW
ereignty we have definitely recognized by
entering into full treaty obligations withit.
The proposed treaty is not commercial
treaty beyond its provision that British
ships shall in Cuban harbors enjoy most
favored nation" advantages in matters OF
port charges and harbor dues. The argu-
rnent that the treaty would permit England
to use Cuban ports as a base OF operation
in time of war may be dismissed as dis
tortion Of the facts. The general pro-
visions OF the treaty are OF a routine nature,
and fail to see wherein they are in any
way menace to the Government Of the
United States.
The African in this particular woodpile
peeps out occasionally in the news de-
spatches where reference is made to
proposed navigation treaty with the United
States. Certain groups interested in trans
portation have for several years sought
the establishment of treaty relations which
would secure to them a monopoly in trans
portation, veiled under special privileges
granted to the United States as gratuity
in return for the great prosperity which
reciprocity with this country has brought
to Cuba" In other@ words, the United
States is to receive tip like waiter
or "A porter. for a service which it has not
rendered Cuba's prosperity is due to the
industry of her citizens and to high prices
on big crops of sugar which we should
have bought reciprocity or no reciprocity.
The objection to the Anglo-Cuban treaty is
quite on all forrs with the advocacy Of the
recently defeated rice bill.
The appearance of such questions as the
Italian treaty, the bond issue, the rice bill,
in election proceedings, the Anglo-Cuban
treaty and few other matters, and the
attitude which the United States has as
sumed in them. seemingly inconsistent,
raise the question whether our place in
Cuban affairs should not he more accurately
defined In the pending Anglo-Cuban pact.
as in the Italian treaty, Cuba appears to be
quite within her constitutional rights and
to he acting within the provisions of the
written laws. Presumably acting under
the -unwritten law we sound warning,
although we have not done so in other
cases which would seem equally to demand
our diplomatic attention.
If the United States is to sit in judgment
on some of Cuba 3 International affairs, why
not in all? A clearer understanding Of
Cuba's status seems desirable and may
become necessary. II Cuba is a sovereign
Power, an independent nation, what is the
scope of her sovereignty II she is little
dog under the American wagon, just what
are the rights and privileges Of the canine?
Serious whiskcr Question.