New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-24

he prosperity which this country has created,
Ind they congratulate themselves on being in
state Of preparedness TO discharge the response
hslities and to cope with any condition which
nay arise One OF the highest ranking and best
posted officers of the army. who served in the
ISLAND at the time of the American occupation,
laid to-day:
Cuba may be abs to take care OF herself for
few years, but the United states will surely
have 10 take hold in the long run. We all knew
that when we evacuated Cuba and everything
that has occurred since has merely strengthened
the conviction. Whether the republic there VIII
last another year two or fall in the present
election. the first conducted without the super
vision OF American troops. will make little
difference.
fortunately the army was never so ready in
al its history, not even in 1soo, TO UNDERTAKE
quick work anywhere. Only two months ago
President Roosevelt thought It would be a 5000
idea TO test the new organization under the
general staff by ordering ave thousand troops
10 be assembled with urgent dispatch at New
port News and landed as soon as possible at
Portland Me The intention was kept secret
until the ruarterYnaster general could estimate
the expense. The general STAFF was found to
have It's plans complete for this or any similar
movement, including ali railway and steamship
accommodations and was prepared to guarantee
TO have the troops al sea IN this case within
three days after the President issued the order
without any preliminary warning whatever to
garrbsonS carriers. The quartermaster gem
erSl, however, found funds available for
mobilization movements after July /, this years
Congress having failed to make any ap-
propriation. and the balance from last years
fund after the actions Of the Chesapeake having
reverted to the treasury. The President was
satisfied, however, that he could rely on a
prompt response whether emergency arose
in Cuba, Panama, Venezuela or Santo Domingo.
So when the Cuhans can no longer control
themselves. shall be found ready to do Il
for them at few days notice. Five Thousand
men could probably do the job this time with
little naval co-oReratien to clear the landing
places. No special preparations would have to
be made We are all ready with more compe-
tent officers than ever had better drilled
men, better weapons. supplies and all that go
70 make an efficient army.
Inquiries made at the State Department to-
day by several more less interested persons
regarding the authority Of the United States
TO intervene in Cuban affairs land troops or
take other measures to suppress riots and re-
store order In the event of further political dis
turbances. were replied to with an emphatic
declaration of tbs plenary powers OF this coun-
Try. Attention was called to repeated efforts Of
the Cuban government to escape the provisions
OF the Plat amendment, and especially of Ar
ticle III, which asserts thai the government
OF Cuba consents that the President Of the
Tnited States may exercise the right to inter
vene for the protection Of life, property and in
dividual liberty"
It is noteworthy that February e. 1901.
committee composed Of Diego Tamayo. J. G.
Gomez. Gonzalo De Quesada, now Minister to
Of Congress who was killed yesterday in Glen
suegos, and Manuel R Silva, now a Senator. re-
ported to the constitutional convention sub
stitute for Article III. of the Platt amendment,
which readi
Third-The Government Of the Republic of
Cuba will accept the Treaty Of Paris OF Decem-
Der 10 1898 in its integrality, the same in what
effrms Cuba's rights in regard TO the obligations
st limitedly assigns her, and especially those
obligations imposed by International law for the
. the United States in the obligation they &C
CURED to that effect IN conformity with Articles
and-XVI Of said Treaty of Paris.
Secretary Root, acting for the United States
promptly and effe ltually declined to accept this
somewhat ambiguous substitute, by which 1t
was sought to terminate the authority Of this
country with the adoption OF the Cuban Con-
stitution and firmly and persistently held out
for the adoption as an integral part of the
Cuban Constitution of the precise terms Of the
PIatt amendment. That there could have been
no misunderstanding of the extent OF the au-
fhority conferred by that so-called amendment
on the United States is perfectly obvious from
the determined effort which Cuba then made to
escape its provisions The United States, how
ever never wavered and never deviated from its
original demand and Cuba ultimately re-
ouired to incorporate every line and word OF
the Platt amendment into a perpetual treaty
by the Cuban and United States Senates, and
final ratification exchanged at Washington on
July /, 1904. The Platt amendment is perna-
nently therefore, the supreme law Of Cuba, as
It is of the United States. and it cannot be dis
regarded.
Under these circumstances there can be
question as TO the authority of the United States
70 act. with such force as may De deemed neces-
sary precisely at such moment the situation
fn Cuba may, In the estimation Of the Presi-
dent demand such action. In reply to a sugges-
ton that the President might deem 1t necessary
TO consult Congress before essaVing any drastic
action it was fur~h pointed out that there
would be no occasion whatsr-er for such
sultation for the reason that the treaty of July
l. 1904 is as bin sing on the President it is
On Cuba, and that he would be derel.ct in his
duty did he fail to intervene. not act OK
war. but as an act Of friendship and protec-
ton, as soon as there occurred in his Judgment
the necessity for such interference.
Of course there is no expectation on the part
Of the officials Of the government that such
necessity viii arise now. but the anxious In
eTzlirer who submits to the State Department a
hypothetical question regarding the authority
Of the President will obtain response which
will leave him no room for doubt on that score.