Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-11-29
ROOT SITS DOWN
ON F|L|BUSTERS.
Secretary Has No Advice to Give
Those in the Isle Of
Pines.
BELONGS TO CUBAN REPUBLIC
Never Has Been American Territory
And is no Way of Establishing IA
Territorial Government

Washington. Nov, 2s.--The admin
istration dashed the hopes of the little
band Of American colonists on the Isle
Of Pines. who have been working to-
ward the separation Of the island from
Cuba and its inclusion I'm the United
States when Secy. Root, after consul
tation with the president made public
the text of letter which he had adj
dressed to Charles Maynard. president
Of the American club Of the Isle Of
Pines, defining the attitude of the
United States government toward the
proposed formation of a territorial
government in the island as a part OF
the United States.
The secretary was most pointed in
the statements in his letter. which is
as follows
Il have received your letter OF oct.
%, In which you say. kindly advise
me at your earliest convenience the
necessary procedure to establish a ter
rltorlal form of government for the
Isle of Pines. West Indies, t. s. A.
1T is not part OF the duty OF the
secretary Of state to give advice upon
such subjects | think it proper. how
ever, to answer your inquiry so far as
II may be necessary to remove an err
ror under which you appear to be rest
ing concerning the status of the Isle
Of Pines and your rights as residents
of that island.
There Is no procedure by which
you and your associates can lawfully
establish a territorial government IN
that island. The island Is lawfully
subject to the control and government
OF the republic of Cuba and you and
your associates are bound to render
obedience to the laws Of that country
so long as you remain in the island II
you fail in that obedience you viii
justly be liable to prosecution In the
Cuban courts and to such punishment
as may be provided by the laws OF
Cuba for such offense as YOU commit
You are not likely to have any
greater power in the future. The
treaty now pending before the senate,
If approved by that body, will relin-
qulsh all claim of the United States
to the Isle of Pines In my judgment
the United States has no substantial
claim to the Isle of Pines. The treaty
merely accords to Cuba what is hers
in accordance with international law
ana justice.
AT the time OF the treaty Of peace
which ended the war between the Unit
ed States and Spain the Isle of Pines
was. and had been for several centur-
ies part of Cuba. ] have no doubt
whatever that II continues to be a part
OF Cuba and that 1t is not and never
has been territory of the United States.
This Is the view with which President
Roosevelt authorized the pendinR
treaty and made and signed it. and'I
expect to urge its confirmation.
Nor would the rejection of the
pending treaty put an end to the con-
troll OF Cuba over the island. A treaty
directly contrary to the one now pc H.
ing would be necessary to do mat
and there is not the slightest prospect
Of such a treaty being made. You may
be quite sure that Cuba will never
consent to give up the Isle OF Pines
and that the United States will never
try to compel her to give it up against
her will. Very respectfully.
"ELIHU ROOT"