THE CUBA REVIEW 



naval station to be held in readiness for contingencies. The Cuban government at 

 this time declared the uprising had collapsed, but the American" government regarded 

 the situation as alarming and besides the marines ordered the gunboats "Paducah" 

 and "Nashville" to Cuba. 



On May 2.jth United States Minister Beaupre sent a note to Secretary Sanguily 

 notifying him of the intention of the American government to send a gunboat to 

 Xipe Bay and that "in the event that the government of your Excellency cannot or 

 does not protect the lives and properties of American citizens, my government, following 

 the procedure it always does in such cases, will disembark troops to give the necessary 

 protection." 



In rejdy President Gomez protested against such action as follows: "A resolution of this kind is so 

 grave, so alarming and so injurious to the sentiments of a people loving and jealous of their inde- 

 pendence, especially when such measures are only warranted by previous agreements between govern- 

 ments, that it would place Cuba in a humiliating position." He asserted that the government was 

 absolutely able "to put down a few unfortunates who are without right or flag." 



To this President Taft replied, saying : 



"I am sincerely gratified to learn of your government's energetic measures to put down the disturbance 

 and to know that you are confident of being successful. -\s was fully explained to the Cuban charge 

 d'affaires here, this government's motive in sending ships to Key West, just as sending the "Prairie" 

 to the Guantanamo naval station, was merely to be able to act promptly in case it should unfor- 

 timately become necessary to protect American life and property by rendering moral support or assist- 

 ance to the Cuban government. As was made quite clear at the time, these ordinary measures of 

 precaution were entirely dissociated from any question of intervention." 



On May 27th President Gomez answered as follows: 



"I am exceedingly grateful for your cablegram, which is appeasing to Cuban patriotism, because 

 of the assurance that the action of the government under your worthy presidency is limited to 

 the observation of events, in order to be ready, should it be necessary, to protect the lives and 

 property of American citizens, and morally to support the Cuban Government without having to land 

 American forces on our territory, unless both governments agree upon such an extreme necessity. 



"It clearly shows the sincerity of the government and the people of the United States, as well as 

 noble and friendly sentiments toward the government and people of Cuba, who are determined to 

 re-establii.h as soon as possible public jieace, for which purpose they will not hesitate, no matter what 

 sacrifices circumstances may impose upon them." 



President Gomez promptly received a message from General Menocal congratulating 

 him upon his letter to President Taft protesting against the landing of American troops. 



At this time General Estenoz. the leader of the rebels, issued a statement to a 

 correspondent of El Dia, an Havana daily, stating the following : 



"The primary cause of the uprising is the failure of the government to repeal the Morua law, which 

 provides that there shall be no recognition of political parties on racial lines, and which is offensive 

 to the negroes. Another cause is the action of the government and the law courts in denying negroes 

 their civil and political rights. The movement is not a racial one, but simjjly the action of certain 

 Cuban citizens to assert their rights at all hazards. We have no hostility to the white people, and I 

 have given strict orders tliat no violence shall be committed on the persons of whites under pain 

 of death. ,• • , 



"If the Americans intervene they will recognize me and my followers as a political party. We are 

 prepared to continue fighting, whatever happens." 



On May 25th the Cuban disturbances reached Congress and the Senate, after a brjef 

 discussion, passed a resolution instructing the Committee on Cuban Relations to in- 

 vestigate and report upon necessary legislation to determine when and how the United 

 States should exercise the right to intervene in Cuba, under the so-called Piatt 

 amendment law. 



The Senate resolution was introduced by Senator Bacon, of Georgia, who expressed 

 the hope that there would be no intervention. Mr. Bacon declared that such legislation 

 as he proposed would replace mere assumed authority of the president to intervene 

 with a clear definite provision of law as to the manner of intervention, and would 

 prevent disorders in Cuba. He said that disorders there "make the question of final 

 annexation a probable one," and he never wanted to see Cuba become a part of the 

 United States. 



President Taft holds the view that the executive, without further legislation by 

 Congress, has ample authority for intervention in Cuba when necessary. He so advised 

 the Cuban Relations Committee of the Senate on June 1st, in connection with the 

 Bacon resolution designed to supplement the Piatt amendment, by enacting specific 

 "authority of law" for what now would be an "assumed authority" to intervene. 



On May 30th United States marines were landed at Daiquiri to protect the property 

 of the Spanish-American Iron Company. 



On June 2d the Havana Legation received reports of the partial burning of a bridge 

 on the Guantanamo & Western Railway and of threats to do further damage. 



On June 4th the Cuban Senate Committee on Laws reported a recommendation for 

 the passage of a law empowering President Gomez to suspend the constitutional 

 guarantees, but only in the province of Oriente. The suspension of the guarantees 



