Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-11
CUBA NOT YET READY
Industrial Interests SolidIy Ar
rayed Against SeIf-Government
REVOLT is IN BACKGROUND
Conservative Element Expresses Little
Hope for Island.
QUESTION OF MANY YEARS YET
Public Confidence Not Restored and
the Revolutionary Habit
Still Strong.
REVOLT is IN BACKGROUND
question OF MANY YEARS YET

HAVANA, December 11.-There seems to
be a general impression here that change
has come in the policy at Washington re-
garding the government of Cuba. Ameri-
can officials in charge of important depart
ments say that word has been received to
this effect, and that the provisional govern
ment will continue much longer than was
planned. Nothing more definite will be dis
closed, except that the change has been
wrought by the representations of the to-
bacco, sugar, fruit, railway and other great
interests that it will not be safe to allow
the Cubans to try unrestrictedly to govern
themselves for a long time to come. There
is no question that that is the way those
interests feel about it from one end of the
island to the other. 1t is also patent that
a very large and influential portion of the
population, in fact, all Cubans who have
property to lose, do not want another re-
public. This feeling is not confined to de-
posed moderates, but is entertained by the
great conservative native element that has
never taken any interest in politics. 1t
seems to be aroused now-not openly, for 1t
fears reprisals If left unprotected to another
Independent island governmental the hope
that it can by letters to public men In the
states make them see the Cuban situation
as its representative, thinking men see 1t.
Question of American Control.
It is asserted that an impression has been
made on Secretary Root, that Secretary
Taft is inclined to doubt the wisdom of
soon withdrawing all American control,
that several senators are convinced there Is
a dangerous amount of difference among
Cubans as to how long another republic
would last and that the President himself
is so tired of Cuba that he would be very
glad if Congress took the question Off his
hands
1t would seem that these unexplained be-
",,l~ {rn%
for the report that the occupation was to
continue indefinitely, if the statements of
some American officials were not in the
same line.
Notwithstanding the Presidents message,
the good faith of which no one for an in
slant suspects they insist that it will be
years before Cuba again has self-govern-
ment, and that she may, by the wish of
her serious. more intelligent people of sub
stance, never desire it uncurbed. The
unanimous opinion of such people is that
if there is to be change of policy in this
direction by the United States it's declara-
ton should come quickly, that confidence
in the islands future may be restored and
it's development proceed
Property Owners Are Fearful.
No amount of hope and belief in the
United States that Cuba can prosper under
a new republic can reassure the Cuban and
foreigner with anything at stake. If they
had no fear of reprisals from the liberals
in power and believed that party could
carry on the government without constant
turmoil, they would still fear the OPP
portunity given by the withdrawal of six
thousand American troops to those who
have acquired the revolutionary habit
from a long line of ancestors. AS there
would not be offices for all, their suppress
sion by the new government would not be
immediate.
1t is for this reason that, while peace
now reigns and the island seems tranquil,
public confidence has not been restored,
and it Is impossible to see how 1t can be
within the few months expected by Presi-
dent Roosevelt. Public confidence is shy
bird in Cuba; it cannot be hunted with six
thousand troops in the woods and cap
tured, unless the troops stay long enough
to tame it.