The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-19
Letter Of Charles Reynard in Reply to
Secretary Root
Some of the Statements of the Secre-
Opinion is Opposed to the Opinion of
Mckinley, Hay and Wood-Associa-
ton Wants q Chance to Prove the
Correctness of Their Claims.

Havana, December 16.-Charles Rey-
| nard, president of the Isle of Pines
Association, forwarded today by the
advice of his attorneys a letter in re
ply to Secretary OF State Roots com
munication Of November 17tn, in
which the secretary outlined to MIR
Reynard the attitude of the United
States government to a proposal Off
the forming Of a territorial govern
ment in the island, as part of the Unit
ed States. Mr. Reynard contradicts
Mr.. Roots statement that Isle of Pines
is lawfully subject to the Cuban GOV
eminent, and saws the Cuban republic
exists solely b. virtue of a consa!tu
ton, the terms of which explicitly ex
clude the Isle of Pines from the domain
of the republic. The Platt amend
ment passed by The United States Con
gress, he says, also remains in force
until it is repealed or modified ard
every officer of the American govern
ment, no matter how he is bound I'm
der its terms, consider the Isle OF
Pines outside the Cuban control and
jurisdiction, personal opinions of such
officers to the contrary, notwithsta1d,
ing. The latter says that Secretary
Roots opinion as to the validity OF
the claim of the United States to the
Isle of Pines is opposed to the opinion
of President Mckinley, Secretary OF
State Hay and Governor General LOel
ard Wood, and 1t quotes some official
acts and remarks to prove them.
The letter gets that Mr. Root as
secretary of war, permitted such acts
and neglect and disobedience and adds
that "Mr. Root, in opposition to the
expressed wishes of Secretary of Stat
Hay insisted upon the negotiation of
a treaty and abandoning any claim to
the Isle of Pines to Cuba, thus cover
ing and concealing illegal acts and
omissions Of the department of the
government for which you were hen
responsible
He says the petitioners believe When
an opportunity Is, given, to demonstrate
the correctness OF their position at
Washington, that President Roosevelt
will enforce the law relating to the
ownership of the Isle of Pines a
faithfully as ne enforces other laws
In conclusion Mr.. Reynard pro-
fesses establishment that the secretary
Of state is siding against those who
are defending their lawfully acquired
interests in American territory" and
deeply regrets that "for the first tim
in American history a secretary Of
state is anxious 10 abandon American
territory and American citizens to
alien and lawless government for no
consideration and for motives which
he seems unwilling to DISCLOSE"
President Reynard of the Isle of
Pines Association, in a letter to III
Associated Press says:
"The last mails from the United
States brought additional guarantees
of $4,000 in cash and of men and ai
the ammunition needed to defend our
rights and Uphold the American tia
in this isle. This makes S200,000 in
cash, 10000 men and all the munltion
needed should we elect to resort to
force in maintaining American sover-
eighty in this territory"
Secretary Andrade, when shown III
above letter was apparently undistilrb
ed. He said the United States doubt
less could be depended upon to prevent
the embarkation of men and munitions
of war for the Isle of Pines Asked
whether he regarded Mr.. Reynar1's!
letter as grounds for prosecution the
secretary said i! was a matter for the
courts to decide, saying that the gov
ernment would pay no attention tci
such statements
Important Vacancies on Senate Com
mittees Filled.
Washington, December 16.-DemO- |
cratic Senators in caucus today approy- |