Did America renege on its promise to Cuba to not make a colony of the island?

Cuba

THE PLATT AMENDMENT is an amendment to the Cuban Constitution that was crafted in Washington. The Cubans were obligated to accept it before the Americans turned over control of the island. At first they rejected it until faced with the reality that complete independence would make them the target of every ambitious despot in the region.

To some, the Platt Amendment was a reasonable precaution (click to enlarge)

The Amendment was introduced into Congress by Senator Orville H. Platt. It altered the relationship between Cuba and the United States that had been codified by the Teller Amendment to America's declaration of war on Spain. The original intent of the Teller Amendment, to preclude American annexation of the island, remained intact. It did, however, provide for continued American protection of Cuba. It authorized the Americans to prevent any other nation from annexing the island. The Cubans themselves promised not to invite such annexation by any other country. It even provided for the Americans to resume the occupation if things got out of hand and the lawful Cuban government requested their assistance. Furthermore, the Cubans agreed to make no treaty that provided a foothold in the Caribbean to any other nation.

Of course, the Cubans could have disclaimed the Platt Amendment and discarded it from their constitution after the Americans withdrew. However, its provisions were also codified in a Cuban-American Treaty signed in 1903, and thus they were barred from altering their relationship to the United States in perpetuity.

Although most of the provisions of the Platt Amendment were negotiated out of existence in 1934, as part of Franklin Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy, one remained in effect and has been an unrelenting irritant to Fidel Castro: the perpetual lease of Guantanamo Bay.

To others, the Platt Amendment was rampant imperialism (click to enlarge)

Whereas the Teller Amendment was an explicit policy eschewing imperialism, the Platt Amendment has been excoriated as imperialistic. That's a bit of a stretch. Although the United States retained a measure of control over Cuba's foreign affairs, at least until Roosevelt rescinded those provisions, the American base at Guantanamo was fairly bought and paid for. The mere fact that subsequent iterations of the island's government may be unhappy with the deal does not make it inequitable.

Often times, those who protest governmental policies and actions are more concerned with contemporary and changing senses of what is fair, but have little knowledge of law, especially international law. However, governments, as well as individuals and businesses, depend upon the sanctity of contracts.