The United States occupied Cuba for five years after 1898. In 1901 Secretary of War
Elihu Root drafted a set of articles (later known as the Platt Amendment) as guidelines
for future United States-Cuban relations. Despite considerable Cuban resistance, they
became a part of the 1902 Cuban Constitution. In following years the United States used
the amendment several times to send troops to maintain or place friendly governments in
power and to protect investments. The amendment was abrogated in 1934.
Whereas the Congress of the United States of America, by an Act approved March 2,
1901, provided as follows:
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 independenceof 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.
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© Paul Halsall, July 1998
