The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-29
Americans Living on the Isle of
Pines Call on the State
{ Department.
Why the U. S. Seems to Have Let
the Island slip-A Mime
apolis ''Pino."
DR.. Ozora P. Sutherland of This City
There-Forty Iowa Families
81. Also.
From The Journal Bureau, Room IS, Post Build
ing, Washington.

From The Journal Bureau, Room IS, Post Build
ing, Washington.
Washington, Jan. 29.-Inquiry among
officials who are familiar with conditions
on the Isle of Pines, just south of Cuba,
the ownership Of which is now in dispute.
reveals, that the controversy between the
American residents and the Cuban gov
eminent was brought about by what ap-
pears to have been a misunderstanding
between the war department and the
state department over the continuation of
American control after the troops We're
Withdrawn from the Island of Cuba on
May 20 Of last year. This blunder af-
fects not only DR.. Ozora P. Sutherland of
Minneapolis. but at least forty families
of Iowans. as we'll as American citizens
who emgrated from other states. In all
there are about 800 American citizens on
the island.
State department officials are advised
that there is no rebellion among these
Americans; no bearing Of arms. nor
threats against Cuban officials. There is
simply a determination among them not
to yield further to the extortions of Gu
ban officials and purpose to have a
speedy understanding as to which gov
eminent they owe allegiance. They con-
tend that they are American citizens, on
American soil, and that in going to- the
island they did not intend to expatriate
themselves, and do not believe that they
have done so. They say that they acted
upon the advice Of the war department to
the effect that the Isle of Pines is a part
of the non contiguous territory of the
United States, and furnish proof of that
advice in exhibiting a copy of a letter
from the war department to that effect
The Plat amendment, which Cuba
bound itself to accept before the United
States government withdrew it's forces,
expressly provided that "the Isle Of Pines
shall be omitted from the proposed con-
FJ.a S,So no he
ownership of the island can be deter
mined by treaty or otherwise So far as
can be learned here both the war de
partment and the state department were
awake that, under the Plat amendment
the island WAS to remain in control of
our government until a treaty was made
fixing the exact status of the island. 1t
has been the object Of the United States
to hold possession of the island for use
as a coaling station in connection with
the defense of the new isthmian canal
and negotiations to that effect have been
going on for some time H. ~.
.a Departments In Conflict.
Acting upon the terms Of the Flat
amendment an order was issued by eithel
the secretary of war. the secretary Of
state, or the president, in advance of the
evacuation Of Cuba. that "the present
form Of government shall continue in the
Isle Of Pines" pending the negotiation
of treaty in accordance with the Plat
amendment. 1t appears that the war de,
partment thought that a notice of the in.
tention to withdraw troops from Cuba
would be understood by the state depart
ment to mean that it must take steps te
form some sort Of government for thu
Isle of Pines, and the state depratmen
thought that the. military government
would be maintained. So between thu
two departments, each believing that tn
other had provided for the protection O
the American citizens on the island, tn,
settlers were left without any protection
other than that afforded by the Cuban
government
In a memorial to the state department
dated Oct. Is, last, the conditions on tn,
island are set forth at length. The petit
ton saws In part;