The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-19
Has Cuba Challenged Us?

bill which PROVIDES LOT secoho
payment of 2s,5OO,OOO to the soldiers OF
the Cuban instruction and to the usu-
rers who have bought up the soldiers
claims has passed the Cuban House
and the Cuban Senate. If it has not
already been signed by President PALMA.
It soon will be. He is committed to the
measure. A bill now pending provides
for a review Of still other claims, as yet
unrecognized, reported as approximate
ing SIS, 900, 900 in their aggregate.
The terms of the Platt Amendment
have been embodied in permanent
treaty with the United States. After
signature, ratification and exchange OF
Publications, this treaty was proclaimed
on July 2, 1904. So far as Cuba's rela-
tions with the United States are con-
oerned, this instrument is of more direct
and binding force than is any provision
OF the Cuban Constitution. Article III.
OF the permanent treaty Declares
-The Government Of Cuba shall not assume or
contract any public debt to pay the interest upon
which and to make reasonable sinking fund pro-
ordinary revenues OF the island Of Cuba. after
defrayinR the current expenses OF the Government.
shall DO Inadequate"
Cuba's own Constitution declares in
Section Of Article LIX. that her Congress
shall be under the obligation Of deci-
ding what permanent revenues shall be
necessary for the payment Of the inter-
est and redemption" of loans contracted.
The permanent treaty declares mpera-
tive q provision for interest payments
and a reasonable sinking fund The
bill Just passed simply says that the
bonds to be issued shall bear interest
at the rate Of S per cent. per annum,
payable half yearly by means Of cou-
pons to be given with the bond and
that in every ordinary budget tho sum
which Congress may decide to devote
to the amortization of the bonds will be
stated In other words, no definite
provision is made for the payment of
interest charges on q bond issue which
will approximate SIX, 200, 900, and amor
tization is to depend upon such appro-
priation az the Congress may see fit to
make from year to year.
The ground on which the supporters
Of this measure stand in their raid on
tho treasury and their imposition Of
burden far beyond the present financial
ability Of the island is that the issue Of
bonds is to constitute an interior debt
and Is therefore not subject to the pro-
visions of the treaty. The terms Of
that instrument are @Shall not assume
or contract any public debt" This
ground is approved by President PALMA,
Notwithstanding his statement in his
message Of last November that Article
II. Of the appendix to the Constitution
forbids the contraction Of public debt
interior OF exterior.
With Cuba's violation OF her own Con-
stitution we may have nothing to do.
Yet it may be noted incidentally that
when the bill was passed in neither
house was there cast the vote OF the
requisite two-thirds of the total number
OF the members as definitely specified
in Section 8, Article Liz, of the Cuban
Constitution.
II the obligation for which this bill
provides payment had been lawfully
incurred, if the measure had been law
fully passed, and If the burden imposed
were one which Cuba could carry with
out serious danger to her financial sta
bility, the United States could have
nothing to say. As it is, the measure
is a dire menace to the immediate future
Of the country and clear violation Of
the terms upon which the Government
was transferred to the control Of the
Cuban people.