Evening star., 1925-01-29
IN TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

held as applicable IN that instance,
subject to- collection in due season.
Sometimes Uncle Sam has been
caricatured as a veritabIe Shylock,
but as a collector Of debts he would
lose his job in any first-rate mercan-
tile establishment as judged by the
comments Of Senator Dill, who has
discovered this overlooked item on
the ledger.
In the official report of the Secre-
tary OF War, William Howard Taft,
Tor the year 1906, there is a detailed
history of the intervention which was
called for by President Palma to save
the island from anarchy, due to q re-
volt or the Liberal party against the
Moderates who held the offices, Pres
ident Roosevelt was extremely re-
luctant to intervene, but was forced
10 consent by the course Of events in
the cuban revolution that was then
active. President Palma, the Woe
president and the cabinet resigned
and demanded that the United States
save cuba from anarchy due to the
suerriIla warfare of the Liberals, who
Win Win armies numbering $4,000 or &C.
Oo0 were ravishing the country. loot
ing sugar mills, burning cane feIds
ana capturing cities, even threa+An-
ing Havana with force of 10000
AT mat time, Secretary Of State
Emu Root was touring South Amer
lea. President Roosevelt sent Secre-
tary Taft and Acting Secretary of
State Robert Bacon as official repre-
sentatiVes of this Government TO in
Vestigate conditions and seek pacifica-
tlon. Immediately upon their arrival
PRESIDENT Palma Insisted upon his
own resignation. In a short time
q r To
upon the instructors to lay down
arms and disperse. Mr.. Taft became
provisional governor until it was ar
ranged for Gen. Charles E. MaEoon
to serve as provisional governor, The
American Army of Occupation was
held in Cuba from September, 1906,
until February 1, 1909, under COM
| mand of Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Barry
| an army of 5000 at the time Of evacu-
alton.
What bearing has this interven
ton upon the ownership Of the Isle
OF Pines" was asked q Senator. He
replied that 1t had no connection di-
rectly, but in the general adjustment
| It might have much to do with the
settlement.
While Gen. Magoon was serving as
| provisional governor, there were
| many American residents of the Isle
| of Pines who thought 1t opportune to
insist upon confirming the American
| title to the island, but Secretary OF
War Taft instructed him to reply
that while the fact that a majority
| of the residents of the Isle OF Pines
were Americans may call for excep-
| tional provisions in respect to pro-
| vincial and municipal government,
any of the three bases mentioned in
| the communication of October l, in
volving an entire separation of the
| Isle of Pines from the Island of
Cuba, is wholly inadmissible." (Ex-
hibit 25, page $40, Secretary's report,
| 1860
The much talked-of February,
{ 1901, PLAT amendment" to the ap-
preparation bill for the War Depart
ment was not written by Senator
Platt, but by Secretary of State Root.
1t not only became a United States
| statute but was embodied in the
| Cuban constitution and in a treaty
| between the Cuban Republic and
| the United States. 1t, therefore, be-
| came the supreme law of both re-
/ pubhcs. By it's provisions, (Article
| lid the United States was given the
right (and obligation) to intervene
| against any interference with Cuban
| independence or the maintenance of
a Cuban government adequate for the
protection of life, liberty and prop
erty. The President, under such y
| treaty, needed no action by Congress
| to sustain such Intervention. By
| Article VI of the same treaty (''the
Platt amendment'O it provided that
the Isle of Pines shall be omitted
| from the proposed constitutional
| boundaries of Cuba, the title thereto
being left to future adjustment by
| treaty"
! No such treaty has yet been actu-
| ated through any ratification by the
/ Senate. The answer of Secretary Taft
in 1901 indicates that the title was
not then deemed to lie apart from
! Cuba until the treaty be agreed upon,
according to Article VI Of Secretary
Roots PLAT amendment"
Icopyhght 1925 by Rsul "a oallinA2 -