By George Gedda
Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, November 25, 1998; 2:42 a.m. EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Three Cuban-American members of Congress say U.S. corporations more interested in profits than democracy are behind a proposal calling for the establishment of a commission to review U.S. policy toward Cuba.

The three met Tuesday with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and asked her to reject the proposal for an official bipartisan panel.

Advocates of the proposed review include former Secretaries of State Henry A. Kissinger, George P. Shultz and Lawrence Eagleburger. Among other backers are former Defense Secretary Frank Carlucci and former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker, R-Tenn.

Reps. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, both Florida Republicans, and Rep. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., stated their case in opposition to the commission during an hour-long meeting with Albright.

The chief congressional backer of the proposal is Sen. John Warner, R-Va., who said a bipartisan review of Cuba policy is warranted because there has been none since 1960.

But the three lawmakers said commission proponents have an unstated desire to lift the U.S. embargo against Cuba because of the economic benefits American companies would receive.

After the meeting with Albright, Diaz-Balart told reporters the ``gluttons of privilege'' are behind the proposal. He added that an administration decision to create such a commission is ``imminent.''

But State Department spokesman James P. Rubin said the administration has not made a decision on the proposal.

``We are considering questions such as the composition and mandate of the commission, and in view of Fidel Castro's unwillingness to undertake any internal reforms, how such a commission may promote the goal we share with friends and allies on protecting human rights and facilitating a transition to democracy in Cuba,'' Rubin said.

Ros-Lehtinen said creation of a commission ``would be a nice Christmas present for Castro.''

Menendez noted that legislation to tighten the nearly four-decade-old embargo against Cuba was approved by a 75 percent congressional majority two years ago and said few issues have been tested as much as Cuba policy.

``There is no division in the country,'' he said.

In a letter to Clinton last month, Warner recommended that the proposed commission study such issues as the national security risk Cuba poses to the United States, compensation of U.S. business people whose property was confiscated in Cuba and the domestic and international impact of the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba.