The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1906-11-13

' tNcW hofh luu'P'Hh'ht Wv 80 A''N'
The action of President Roosevelt u
| directing the intervention OF the civi
and military authorities OF the United
| states I'm Cuba has met with the nearly
and general approval OF the country
| In the recess of Congress there was nc
other course left open to him, In vie"
| of the obligations which we have as
sumed toward the Government and
people OF that island. To a proper
understanding of the future relations
of our Government toward them and
| to the part II may take in shaping the
destiny of that island. it may be well
to examine the character of the obi ga
lions we have assumed, and, in doing
so. to recall some well-known facts.
The joint resolution of Congress OF
April 20, 1898, which was virtual
declaration of war against Spain, con-
tanned the following provision:
"Fourth-That the United Statcs
hereby disclaims any disposition or In
tention to exercise sovereignty, juris-
dction or control over said island
(Cuba) except for the pac fication
thereof, and asserts its determination,
when that is accomplished, to leave the
government and control of the island TO
its people"
This enactment was not only a no
tice to Spain and to Cuba, but dec
laration to the world of our determi-
nation and purpose.
After the war and when the United
States was proceeding Ito leave the
government and control OF the island to
t.. tn, hn nf
March .. 1901, to that end, adopted the
following, being a part of what Is
known as the Plat Amendment:
"III.-That the Government of Cuba
consents that the United States may
exercise the right to intervene for the
preservation of Cuban independence,
the maintenance of government ade-
quate for the protection of life, prop
erty and individual liberty, and for
discharging the obligations with re-
spect to Cuba imposed by the treaty OF
Paris on the United States, now to be
| a ssumed and undertaken by the Gov
eminent of Cuba"
The primary object of the interven-
ton thus authorized is "for the preser-
walton of Cuban idependence.' 1t is tC
be noted in connection with the last
| clause just quoted that while in the
treaty of Paris Spain "ceded' to the
United States the Philippine Islands
and Porto Rico, it simply "reli1quish'
ed" it's claim of sovereignty over and
title to Cuba; hence the United States
has never acquired permanent title
to cuba. At the instance of the United
States Article III. was ratified by the
Cuban Government and attached to Its
constitution. with the other articles OF
the Plat Amendment. Additional sol
| emnity was given to these articles by
treaty entered into between Cuba and
| the United States in 1908, two years
after the independent government OF
Cuba had been established. Article
VII. likewise provided that, ito enable
| the United States to maintain the In.
| dependence of Cuba" coaling or nava
| stations should be leased by Cuba t.
the United States; and in 1903 leases
We're made and signed by the Presi'
dents of the two countries, in which
the stipulation "to maintain the indie
pendence OF Cuba" was recited and APP
proved.
1t is thus seen that the United States
has in the most impressive and binding
manner five times announced its deter
mination and its duty to maintain the
independence of Cuba: First, in the
declaration of war against Spain; sec
ond, in the enactment by Congress of
the Plat Amendment: third, in requlr-
ing the Cuban convention to make II a
part of its constitution: fourth, in taxi
ing a lease of the naval stations: and,