The
Platt Amendment, 1901
Provided further, That in fulfillment of the declaration contained in the joint
resolution approved April twentieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, entitled
"For the recognition of the independence of the people of Cuba, demanding
that the Government of Spain relinquish its authority and government in the island
of Cuba, and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and
directing the President of the United States to use the land and naval forces
of the United States to carry these resolutions into effect," the President
is hereby authorized to "leave the government and control of the island of
Cuba to its people" so soon as a government shall have been established in
said island under a constitution which, either as a part thereof or in an ordinance
appended thereto, shall define the future relations of the United States with
Cuba, substantially as follows:
I-That
the government of Cuba shall never enter into any treaty or other compact with
any foreign power or powers which will impair or tend to impair the independence
of Cuba, nor in any manner authorize or permit any foreign power or powers to
obtain by colonization or for military or naval purposes or otherwise, lodgement
in or control over any portion of said island.
II-That said government shall not assume or
contract any public debt, to pay the interest upon which, and to make reasonable
sinking fund provision for the ultimate discharge of which, the ordinary revenues
of the island, after defraying the current expenses of government shall be inadequate.
III-That the government of Cuba consents that
the United States may exercise the right to intervene for the preservation of
Cuban independence, the maintenance 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 of Paris on the United States, now
to be assumed and undertaken by the government of Cuba.
IV-That all Acts of the United States in Cuba
during its military occupancy thereof are ratified and validated, and all lawful
rights acquired thereunder shall be maintained and protected.
V-That the government of Cuba will execute,
and as far as necessary extend, the plans already devised or other plans to be
mutually agreed upon, for the sanitation of the cities of the island, to the end
that a recurrence of epidemic and infectious diseases may be prevented, thereby
assuring protection to the people and commerce of Cuba, as well as to the commerce
of the southern ports of the United States and the people residing therein.
VI-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.
VII-That to enable the United States to maintain
the independence of Cuba, and to protect the people thereof, as well as for its
own defense, the government of Cuba will sell or lease to the United States lands
necessary for coaling or naval stations at certain specified points to be agreed
upon with the President of the United States.
VIII-That by way of further assurance the
government of Cuba will embody the foregoing provisions in a permanent treaty
with the United States.
Source: "The Platt Amendment," in Treaties and Other International Agreements of the United States of America, 1776-1949, vol. 8, ed. C.I. Bevans (Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 197 1), pp. 1116-17.