The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-18
s~sistratiou list in this generous man.

Cubans tina the American occupation was
but temporary and that the troops would
be Withdrawn when a stable government
for the island had been established. MIR.
Taft and Mr.. EEcon made every effort to
induce President Palma to remain in office,
but that executive refused to do so. TIL
Moderates were most anxious that the
United States should intN<vene, but they
wanted il to appear that Che Intervention
was not due to their attitude. They desired
TO thrust the whole responsibility upon the
United States.
The situation became very critical about
September IS, and on that date President
Roosevelt sent a telegram through Secre-
tary Taft 20 President Palma urging him
to continue in Office. In this telegram he
said to Palma:
II is evident that under existing Ctrcum-
stances the Government, executive and legls-
lative, as now constituted, cannot stand by
itself. and that to attempt TO MAINTAIN II
merely means disaster. and perhaps ruin. Tor
Cuba. Under you for four years Cuba has
been an Independent republic. l adjure you
for the sake Of your own fair fame not TO con-
duct yourself so that the responsibility. II
such there be, for the death OF the republic
can he put at your door. ! pray that you
will act 80 that IL will appear that you at least
have sacrificed yourself for your country. and
that when YOU leave Office you leave your
country still free. You are then not RESPONSE
bile il further disasters should unhappily over
take cuba. You will have done your part az
q gentleman and a patriot If you act in this
matter on the suggestion OF MIR. Tart, ana l
most urgently beg you TO do so.
Later on the same day the President sent
a message TO MIR. Taft in which he said that
II the United States was forced to inter
1900 k.-a,sa nf tho phgfinanv nf Palma
and the Moderates. would il not be we'll
worth considering whether the interview
ton should be aimed at Palm and his
party-"that is, whether we should not
notif y them that we will take possession OF
the ports, establish a temporary govern
ment and notify the insurgents that 4
they will at once lay down arms we will
agree TO a new election and to the other
condition, on which we have already agreed
with them"
The Presidents appeal to President
Palma TO continue in Office was without
avail, and on the same day the telegram
was delivered TO the Cuban Executive
, Secretary Taft was informed that Palma,
, the Vice-President all the Cabinet and all
the Congressman in the Moderate party
would resign, leaving nothing OF the Gov
m Secretary Taft telegraphed the
President that there was nothing 70 do
but establish a provisional government.
A plan for the settlement OF the difficulties
by arbitration was ruined by the informa-
ton that the leaders of the Moderate party
had decided to "scIttle,' to use Secretary
Taftis own characterization of what they
were about to do.
long telegram to Secretary Taft. In it he
said;
It ia undoubtedly a very evil thing that the
revolutionists should be encouraged and the
dreadful example afforded the island Of sue
cess in remedying wrongs by violence and
treason to the Government.
If the Palma Government had shown any
real capacity for self-defence and ability TO
sustain itself and a sincere purpose to remedy
the wrongs of which your kilograms show
that they have been guilty j should have
been Inclined TO stand by them. no matter
10 what extent, including armed interven-
ton. but IA things actually are we do not
have the chance Of following any such course.
. They absolutely decline either to
endeavor TO remedy the wrongs they have
done or to so much as lift a hand In their
own defence or make an effort to secure the
stability of their Government or the over
throw of the insurrectiOnists
do not have much hope that with the ex-
ample before them OF such success in an in
surrection the people who grow disconnected
with the new Government will refrain from in
surrection and disturbance SOM time in
the future, but there is a slight chance. and
in my opinion we should give them this chance.
Then N the new government SOONER III hItI
falls 10 pieces under the stress OF another in
aurrection not only will our duty be clearer
but the conception by our people and by the
people of other nations of our duty will be
clearer and we will have removed all chances
OF any honest people thinking that we have
failed TO do our best to establish peace and
der in the island without deriving It OF its
independe nce.
On September ~ Secretary Taft tele-
.ranhal tho President IA follows.
The situation has changed again and IL be-
coming more critical. Iayas is now trying to
match up an agreement with some of the lead
ers of the Moderate party by which a part
of the Moderate party and the Liberal party
shall elect not n constitutional president Tor
three and one-half years. but a provisional
president, which IL an office the constitution
max s no provision for.
was at first inclined. and did tell him that.
n the agreement proved satisfactory. ] should
not obi ect 10 a provisional president. although
not constitutional. il it brought peace. |
shall recall that statement.
On the following day the President re-
piled as follows:
MY oThanI Judgment is that IL would be
better to follow your first impulse and agree
20 the formation of a provisional govern
ment under the provisional President in spite
of its not being constitutional. Upon my
word. | do not see that with Cuba in the posi-
tion it is we need bother our heads much
about the exact way in which the Cubans
observe or do not observe so much OF their
own Constitution as does not concern us.
Certainly the Constitution will come to an
end If President Palma resigns and leaves
his office while there ia not a quorum OF Con-
Rress 70 accept his resignation. Neither do
I understand why the fact that the Govern
meut Is not within the Constitution, as you
say. would alter our control Of the situation
for pacihcation. l think il would be a mis-
fortune for us to undertake TO form a pro-
visional government II there was a fair
chance Of obtaining peace by allowing
the Cubans themselves to form their own
provisional government.
Secretary Taft then telegraphed as fol-
lows:
Provisional government scheme failed at
any rate. Was notified that the two parties
could not agree even before ! recalled my
acuuiescence In II. | am confident the pro-
visional government could not have included
enough persons to make IL at all practicable
and would probably have involved imm ediate
appointm emit OF insurgent Generals TO Office.