The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-11-17
PRO EST FfOMTHE
ISLE OF PINES
American Residents Object
to Cuban Control As U. s.
Citizens.
THREATEN TO ASSERT RIoHTs 5
ADMINISTRATION EMBARRAss-
ED BYSTHEIR ACTIoN-sEcRE-
TARY ROOTS OPINION.

w WASHlNGION, Nov. l6, 19D0.-lt
has been known for several months that
American residents in the Isle Of Pines
were becoming restive under Cuban CON
troll, but no intimibtien has been received
in official circles llere that they intended
to resort to radical measures to assert
! what they believe TO be their rights as
American citizens.
The announcement that at a mass
meeting of residents of the island dele
gates We're chosen to come to Washing
/ ton to antagonize the treaty pending be-
fore the Senate for the formal transfer
/ of the island to the Republic of Cuba
was not surprising to administration Of
/ ficials; but surprise was created at the
reported erection of territorial govern
ment on the island and the selection of
important officials to administer the af-
fairs of that government. No adyices
indicating such action have been receiv-
ed officially and nothing is known of it
except that which is contained in the
| press dispatches.
The statement is made frankly by ad-
mlnistratlon officials that the attitude of
4 residents of the Isle of Pines toward the
treaty negotiated with Cuba for the for
/ a.. III.
MAJ transfer OF me island to the Cuban
government mas embarrassed rather sefl-
ousiy the ohlted states IN It's relations
win tne nepupilc OF Ouoa. Inc treaty
was negotiated IN good faith to carry out
"hat IS regarded Dy the President and
otner ohciais OF the Administration as
me EVIDENT intent oI me treaty q Farls
ana to clear away any element q doubt
"hich might exist as 70 the controi OF
tne isiana.
le IS pointed oat that some OF those
VINO located on the Isle OF Fines after the
spanish war Went tnere nelore tne stat
US OF the island was understood fuliy
ana engaged IN schemes OF promotion OF
thelr private interests 1t can be said
that the Wouid-pe seceders VIII receive
no announcement from the adininistra-
ton Y
secretary OF stare Root. when ne was
secretary ei WAT. was very cieaf ana
emphatic on the points That the Isle of
right, as matter OF International law,
ana as a matter OF justice" furthermore,
that III procuring naval stations in Cuba
4 for the United States there was gen
eral understanding that the Isle OF Fines
was to De. eeded to Cuba. although its
tltle had been in doubt. One OF the ma
val stations, that at Gudntahamo, al
ready has been ceded, and there never
had been any question aheut tAe sscesliHg
of the one at Bahia Honda.
The reported secession Of the residents
from Cuban control is deprecated yigor-
ously. but action regarding it, if any
should be contemplated. would be taken
only after the government has been ad-
vised officially and fully as to the situa-
tion.N
At the Cuban legation the following
statement was made today
I'VE do not know anything more about
this secession Of the Isle OF Pines than
what We have seen TINS morning IN the
newspapers. As we have received No
official information whatever about the
matter we firmly believe that it amounts
to nothing. and IS merely repetition oi
similar movements which have been
made in the island ever since large
American colony established Itself there
and began to buy the land.
| BY the terms Of the protocol which
ended hostiiities in the Spanish Warsand
the treaty Of Paris, i was provided that