Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-19

After some preliminary conversation the
general asked my friend If he were sup
porting the Palma government. My
| friend, whom I will call Mr.. Alpha. de-
clared frankly that he was not, and then
the following dialogue took place:
Would you give financial assistance to a
revolution?''
II would: How much do you WANT?
I'VE need $1,000
"What are you going to do with IT."
1--WE are going to start revolution.
"How are you going to do it,"
by removing President Palma. You
know there Is a door connecting the office
of the alcalde with the interior Of the
palace. have twenty picked men whom
can trust, and a friend Of mine, who is
employed in the alcalde's office. will give
us the keys, so that they can gather there
on the first convenient night. and when a
suitable hour has arrived, they can make
their way quietly through the door to the
private apartments Of the family. where
they will kill President Palma and his
family. and. in the morning. we Will pro
| claim Jose Miguel Gomez. president OF
Cuba
why kill the family?"
Because that may be necessary to pre-
vent Identification: The president and his
| family sleep in adjoining rooms. and it will
be difficult to get to his bed and get away
| without being discovered by some member
| Of the family"
| revolution" said Mr.. Alpha, land l can
| not promise to furnish any funds for such
| purpose"
"Then you are not a true friend Of Cuba, "
was the reply.
There is no doubt that President Palma's
| life was in danger continually from the
time of the bogus election until his abdlca'
! ton, and he was perfectly aware of 1t. The
names of the men who were In the plot
and details of their conspiracies. These
same men expect soon to become the rulers
of Cuba, and II an election should be held
,k11x OH nf
Therefore, you may appreciate the reasons
why the foreigners. who own W or w pei
cent of the wealth of Cuba are begging
| their governments to prevent the WIN
drawal of the United States forces, which
now guarantee them peace and protectlon
Legal Status Of the Government.
| The legal status Of the provisional gov
| eminent is not discussed down here. M
| one. either native or foreigner. question
its legality or denies it's authority. Every
body concurs in the opinion that the Cubar
constitution and Plat amendment to thu
| treaty between the United States and Cub
give US the right to intervene as we ar
doing at present. Public opinion In tn
United States, however. Is divided, both a.
| to the legality and the expediency of inter
vention. The opinion of Secretary Root
| who Is not only great lawyer. but TIL
! constitutional adviser Of the President o
| the United States in such matters Is pub
| lished In the first number of the American
Journal Of International Law. of which
Prof. Scott, solicitor Of the Department o
State Is the editor That opinion reads a:
follows:
1.-THE resignation of President Palma and
his cabinet consequent upon the success OF
| the open and armed rebellion against his
government, and President Roosevelt's ap-
pointment Of Charles E. Magoon as pro-
visional governor have led to no little COM
ment and query as to the international
status Of the Cuban republic. A considera-
ton and understanding of a few elementary
facts and principles dissipate any reason
able doubt.
1.-THE present government. while termed
provisional to distinguish 1t from the ordi-
nary and settled government under officials
elected or selected by Cuba, is a constitu-
tionai government just as truly as was the
government of Palma. 1t is constitutional
| because 1t is provided for and is in strict
| accordance with the exact letter and spirit
! of the Cuban constitution, promulgated
| May 20, 1902. which states, in express
terms, in annex ILL., that the government of
| Cuba consents that the United States may
| exercise the right to intervene for the pres
| ervation of Cuban independence, the main
tenance Of a government adequate for the
| protection Of life. property and individual
| liberty and for diScharging the obligations
with respect to Cuba imposed by the treaty