nvention added these provisions to the new constitution of Cuba.
On May 20, 1902, the American troops withdrew, leaving Cuba in better
condition than she had ever been before. Subsequently the United States
was forced to intervene to preserve order, but, though the temptation
was strong to remain, the American troops again withdrew after they had
done their constructive work. The voluntary entrance of Cuba into the
Great War in cooperation with the United States was a tribute to the
generosity and honesty of the American people.

* An amendment to the Army Appropriation Bill of March 2, 1901.

Porto Rico presented a problem different from that which the United
States had to solve in Cuba. There existed no native organization which
could supply even the basis for the formation of a government. The
people seemed, indeed, to have no desire for independence, and
public sentiment in the United States generally favored the permanent
possession of the island. After a period of rule entirely at the
discretion of the President, Congress established in 1900 a form
of government based on that of the American territories. Porto Rico
remained, however, unincorporated into the Union, and it was long
doubtful whether it would remain a dependency or would ultimately
attain statehood. In 1917, however, the degree of self-government was
increased, and the inhabitants were made American citizens. It now seems
probable that the island will ultimately become a State of the Union.

Meanwhile on the other side of the world the United States had a more
unpleasant task. The revolted Filipinos, unlike the Cubans, had not
declared themselves for independence but for redress of grievances. The
United States had assisted Aguinaldo, at the moment in exile, to return
to the islands after the Battle of Manila Bay but had not officially
recognized him as having authority. When he saw Spanish power
disappearing under American blows, he declared himself in favor of the
abolition of all foreign rule. This declaration, of course, in no
way bound the United States, to whom the treaty with Spain, the only
recognized sovereign, ceded the island absolutely. There was no flaw
in the title of the United States, and there were no obligations, save
those of humanity, to bind the Americans in their treatment of the
natives. Nevertheless, the great majority of Americans would doubtless
have gladly favored a policy similar to that pursued in the case of
Cu