New-York tribune., 1903-01-23
NO CUBAN JURISDICTION
ISLE OF PINES STA TUS.
This GoUernHeRt Standing Firmly
by the Platt Amendment
LEY r-1EGRApE TO TIE rRTErNE


Washington Jan. 22-The refusal to pay
taxes and the defiance of the local government
by some five hundred Americans who have es-
tablished themselves the Isle of Pines, as re-
lated in a dispatch from Havana published in
The Tribune on Wednesday, has brought the
controversy regarding the sovereignty over that
island 10 an acute stage, which emphasizes the
extreme urgency Of prompt ratification of the
pending reciprocity treaty as essentially the
first step in the settlement of all pressing ques-
tions between the United States and the Re
public Of Cuba. The administration at Wash
ington considers fnfeasible any proposition look
ing to the REIMBURSEMENT of the Isle of Pines
to the Cuban Government except by a con-
vention which will carry out all the stipulations
of the PIatt amendment including the clause
relating to coaIing stations until the agreement
on commercial relations goes into operation
The protests OF the American coIonists who
were Influenced to settle in the Isle of Pines by
formal assurances from the War Department
that American jurisdiction extended over that
island. are supported by this government, which
declines to recognize the validity of any act of
the present Cuban Government attempting TO
modify the regime established in that island by
General Leonard Wood. under express authority
from the Secretary of War
The documentary history of the status Of the
Isle Of Pines is brief and simple By the act Of
Congress of March ,. 1901 Ghe Platt amend
nent, it was declared:
That the Isle of Pines shall be omitted from
the proposed constitutional boundaries of Cuba,
the title thereto being left 10 future adjust
ment by treaty
On June L, 1901. the Cuban Constitutional
Convention adopted the above as a part of the
constitution Of the republic of Cuba, and thus
the matter rested until the time approached for
transferring the government Of the island from
the military authorities of the United States to
the duly elected representatives of the Cuban
people.
on May 3 1902 the Secretary of War ad-
blessed a letter to Brfgadier General Leonard
Wood, Military Governor of Cuba, giving spe-
ci1c instructions relative TO the method of pro
oedure in making the transfer of sovereignty.
inclosing with this instruction four papers.
marked respectively "a "B "C' and ID"
and instructed him to proceed as follows:
At noon on May %. the newly elected Presi-
dent and Congress Of Cuba being assembled in
one place you viii publicly read to them the
declaration Of transfer marked D and at the
same time deliver 10 the President the original
thereof signed by you.
This paper ID" drafted by the Secretary of
War on Nay 3, 1902. and signed and delivered
by General Wood to President Palma on May
%. 1902, contains the following:
It is understood by the United States that the
continue as de facto government pending the /
settlement of the title TO the said island by +
treaty pursuant to the Cuban constitution and /
the act of Congress Of the United States. ap- /
proved March >. 1901
Up to this point the record is clear and con-
sistent but President Palma, replying TO the /
above quoted paper d in his letter of May 20. /
1902. addressed to General Wood, says:
It is understood that the Isle of Pines is to
continue de facto under the jurisdiction Of the [
government of the republic Of Cuba, subject TO |
such treaty as may be entered into between the |
government Of the United States and that Of the /
Cuban republic provided for in the Cuban |
constitution and in the act passed by the Con-
gress Of the United States and approved March /
.. 1901
It is to be noted that General Wood advised
the Cuban Government that the de facto gov
ernment Of the Isle Of Pines which he had
established would continue pending the negotia-
ton Of a treaty, and President Palma says that
the Isle Of Pines is to continue de facto under
the jurisdiction Of the government of Cuoa
pending the conclusion of 4 treaty between
Cuba and the United States.
It is held by the War Department authorities
that there was no ambiguity in General Woods
letter Of transfer, and that the United States
cannot be held responsible for any twisted in
terpretatiou by the Cuban President of the ex-
pIicft decIaratio of the Platt amendment