Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1905-11-29
Root Pulls End to Hopes Of
American Residents.
MUST OBEY CUBAN LAWS OR
GET OUT SAYS SECRETARY
Strongly WOrded Letter From State
Department ReIinquiShes Claim
to Sovereignty Over Island,

Washington Nov. 2S.--The admin
istration today dashed the hopes of
the little band Of American colonists
on the Isle of Pines, who have been
working toward the separation of the
island from Cuba and its inclusion IN
the United States, when Secretary
Root after consultation with the
president made public the text of Il
letter which he had addressed to
Charles Raynard, president of the
American club of the island defining
the attitude of the United states to-
ward the proposed formation of a ter
ritorial government i'm the island as
part of the United States. The secre-
tary was most pointed In the state
ments in his letter. which is as fol-
lows.
L have received your letter of Octo-
ber %, in which you say:
Kindly advise me at your earliest
convenience the necessary procedure
to establish a territorial form of gov
ernment for the Isle of Pines. West
Indies, United States of America" 4"
1t is no part Of the duty of the sec
retary Of state to give advice upon
such subjects / think 1t proper. how
ever to answer your inquiry so far as
IT may be necessary to remove an er-
ror under which you appear to be
resting concerning the status of the
Isle of Pines and your rights as resi-
dents of that island.
There Is no procedure by which
YOU and your associates can lawfully
establish territorial government of
that island.
The island Is lawfully subject TO
control and government.of the renub-
lie of Cuba. and you and your associ-
ptes are bound to render obedience
TO the laws OF that country so long
US you remain in the island. If YOU fail
IN that obedience YOU will 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 pend-
ing before the senate, II approved by
mat body viii relnquish ali 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 10
Cuoa What Is hers in accordance with
international law and justice.
- Wv AillAN VI Ailt TREATY. OF DHHrH
which ended the war between the
United States ana Spain. the Isle Of
Pines was and had been for several
centuries part Of Cuba. | have no
doubt whatever that 1t continues To
be a part of Cuba and that IL is not
ana never has been territory of the
united states. This Is the view with
which the president authorized the
pending treaty made and signed n.
ma expect To urge It's confirmation.
Nor would the rejection of the pend =
ing treaty put an end to the control
OF Cuba over the island. A treaty d.
rectly contrary to the one pendinr
would be necessary to do that. and
there Is not the slightest prospect OF
such treaty being made.
You may be quite sure that Cub1
VIII never consent to give M the Isle
OF Pines and that the United States
VIII never try TO compel her to give II
up against her will
Very respectfully.
'ELIHU ROOT"