session, in the city of Washington, on January 6, 1916, endeavored to lay a firm foundation upon which the temple of justice may be raised and may securely rest, and in the recommendations of Habana concerning international organization, adopted by the American Institute of International Law at its second session in the city of Habana on January 23, 1917, it attempted to state the goal of its endeavor and to outline the minimum of international organization consistent with the administration of international justice. WASHINGTON, D. C., April 21, 1917. JAMES BROWN SCOTT. ་ TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE THE PLATT AMENDMENT-RECOMMENDATIONS ON INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN: It is almost nineteen years ago since I started for Cuba, as I then thought, in response to a call of President McKinley for volunteers, but the regiment in which I had the honor to serve as a private was attached to the Philippine expeditionary forces, and it is only today that I have arrived; and very happy I am to find myself at last in the beautiful city of Habana, in the beautiful island of Cuba, and to see with my own eyes the capital of Cuba Libre. You will believe me when I assure you that this is no ordinary event for me, and you will pardon me if I enter somewhat into the relations between Cuba and the United States, because I would like to use them "to point a moral and adorn a tale." When, in 1898, President McKinley informed Spain that the situation in Cuba was intolerable and that it should not be continued, and when Congress directed the land and naval forces of the United States to be used in order to secure the independence of Cuba, it was understood, and it was so stated, that the war-for war it was to be should be one of independence, and that it should not be one of conquest. By the treaty of peace, signed December 10, 1898, between Spain and the United States, it was agreed that Cuba should be occupied by forces of the United States, but the United States intended then and always that Cuba, after a period of reconstruction, should be handed over to its people. Let me quote a few sentences from the documents in order that we may see, from official sources, the facts in the case. In his message to the Congress of April 11, 1898, President McKinley recommended that the United States should inter vene in Cuba "in the cause of humanity and to put an end to the barbarities, bloodshed, starvation, and horrible miseries now existing there;" and on the 20th the Congress adopted the following joint resolution, providing: First. That the people of the Island of Cuba are, and of right ought to be, free and independent. Second. That it is the duty of the United States to demand, and the Government of the United States does hereby demand, that the Government of Spain at once relinquish its authority and government in the Island of Cuba and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters. Third. That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United States, to such extent as may be necessary to carry these resolutions into effect. Fourth. That the United States hereby disclaims any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said Island except for the pacification thereof, and asserts its determination, when that is accomplished, to leave the government and control of the Island to its people.2 On December 10, 1898, the treaty of peace between the countries unfortunately at war was concluded at Paris, and of this treaty two articles, the 1st and the 16th, are material to the present question. Thus, the first reads: Spain relinquishes all claim of sovereignty over and title to Cuba. 1 Foreign Relations of the United States, 1898, p. 757. 2 United States Statutes at Large, vol. 30, pp. 738-9. |