Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-17
NO INTERVENTION YET
SENATOR BEVERIDGE'S VIEW
ABOUT CUBAN SITUATION.

NEW YORK, September Ex-senator
Beveridge discussed at length the Cuban
situation with a Star correspondent, and
the sum and substance of the statement
may be grasped in three words:
mo intervention-yet.'
Of course. it must not be understood
that Senator Beveridge supplied this
punctuation, or even by an infection
of the voice indicated that he be-
lieved intervention in Cuba a probability.
When questioned along this line the genial
Indiana face became as that of a craven
image, as difficult to decipher as the hero
glyphics on the base of an Egyptian
sphinx. Indeed. the senator would not
even admit that he discussed the Cuban
situation with the President yesterday. Ac-
cording to the common report, and the in
formation doled out to the newspaper cor
respondents at Oyster Bay, Sen itor
Beveridge was a guest of the President at
the luncheon. and took no part in the dis
cussion which followed between the Presi-
dent and the representatives of the State,
War and Navy departments which resulted
in the formula ton of President Rooseveit's
letter to Senior Quesada.
a member of the committee on Cuban rela-
tons; Also he is a member of the commit
tee on foreign relations. Again, 1t should
be remembered that it Senator Bev-
eridge who made (and it is generally I'M
derstood that he was officially chosen for
the task the only comprehensive explana-
ton of the Platt amendment after its pas
sage by Congress, which appeared in the
is one man in the United States who is IA
milar with the Cuban situation, and who
might be considered an authority on the
subject 1t Is this same genial gentleman
from the middle states So it is at least
reasonable to assume that the senator was
not shut out in the cod while the lmpor-
tant Cuban question was being discussed
at Oyster Bay even if the gentleman who
hands out news to the press insists that he
took no part in it.
Depends on Cuba.
1.-THE attitude of the United States to-
ward Cuba, said the senator, depends
purely on the Cuban people themselves.
There is not the slightest desire on our
part for Intervention. OF course, you I'M
derstand that 1 am not attempting to give
voice to the opinions or ideas of the Presi-
dent The President speaks for himself;
and 1 speak for myself, and l am sure
voice the sentiment of the Cuban relations
committee and of the committee on for
egn relations when 1 reiterate that the
outcome of the present situation is up to
the Cuban people. There is no desire on
the part of the United States to intervene.
On the contrary, there Is a very sincere de-
sire to aid, by every peaceful means. the
Cuban people in regaining their poise and
in establishing lasting and proper form
of government.
United States will do everything In its
power to bring this condition about, and
it may be stated fatty that there will be
no intervention under the Plat amend
ment until such action becomes plainly and
absolutely necessary But''-and here the
senator paused. if that may be considered
as significant-.we must remember that
the Plat amendment gives us the right to
interfere and, indeed, 1t would be our
plain duty to interfere If the Cuban people
should bring about a state of chaos and
anarchy such as exists from time to time
in several of the South American republics.
And l trust and believe that the United
States will not shirk it's plain duty should
such a chaotic condition be established.
A Lot of Nonsense.
There has been lot of talk about the
supposed action of the United States In
turning over Cuba with free hand to do
as she chooses. This Is all nonsense. The
P!att amendment is very explicit regarding
this point. Also it is not generally under
stood. By its terms it esi...ishes the most.
t..
The United States can intervene In Cuba
whenever the governmental conditions are
such that life and property are not con-
sidered safe. And by this I do not mean
American life or American property. More
over the United States is the sole judge as
to the justification for Intervention. The
Platt amendment Is part of the constitu-
ton of Cuba and an unrepealed law OF the
United States"
lis not the present move in sending Mr.
TOT ri IN
a manner as peaceful Intervention" was
asked.
mo; most emphatically no." said the
senator. 1T is simply another evidence OF
the Presidents desire to use every possible
means to assist the Cuban people in the
of firm and lasting gov
eminent"
Question of Intervention.
What condition would you consider to
justify intervention?'
"That question" said the senator Il
must decline to answer. An expression OF
an opinion on that point would not be be-
coming in me as member Of the Cuban
relations committee or as a member Of the
foreign relations committee
Before the senator indicated that the in
terview must be considered at an end he
said this:
Getting back to my first assertion, If the
United States should find it necessary to
intervene, 1t will be because of the actions
of the Cuban, people, and by the Cuban
people / do not mean any faction Of the
Cpban people. There will be no tnterven-
ton because any faction requests 1t, but
because the situation as such demands it.
When the history of this Cuban matter
shall be written 1t will be found that Presi-
dent Roosevelt has acted throughout with
the greatest reserve and restraint"
Will or Will Not intervene.
do you mean by your last statement that
the United States will not intervene in case
a formal request for Intervention comes
from the present President Of Cubar'
II repeat that Intervention. II 1t comes at
all. will come as q result OF the situation
and not necessarily as result Of a re-
quest
Either on the part Of Presidtnt Palma or
on the part Of the insurgents7'
Exactly. The United States cannot con-
slider the question Of factions That IN