Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-29
KE DECIDES FOR CUBA
Secretary Root Gives Americans
on Isle Of Pines No
Hope
UNDER CUBAN JURISDICTION
Rights of tho Residents of the Islands
Are Only Those Of Persons Residing
in Cuba-United States Will Not In
terfere in Behalf of Those Wishing
Annexation.

Washington, Nov 29.-The adminls-
tratlon yesterday dashed the hopes OF
the little band OF American coionists
on the isle of Pines who have been
working toward the separation or the
island from Cuba and its inclusion In
the United States, when Secretary
Root. after a consultation with the
president, made public the text OF
letter, which he had addressed to
Charles Raynard. president Of the
American club Of the isle Of Pines, de-
filming the attitude Of the United States
government toward the proposed for
nation OF a territorial government in
the island as a part OF the United
States. The secretary was most point
ed In the statements in his letter.
which is as folloWs:
Il have received your letter Of Oc-
tober 25 in which you say:
Kindly advise me at your earliest
convenience the necessary procedure
to establish territorial form Of gov
eminent for the isle of Pines, West
Indies. U. S. A.
1T is no part Of the duty of tho sec
rotary of state to give advice upon
such subjects. ! think 1t proper, how
ever, to answer your inquiry SO far as
1t may be necessary to remove an error
under which you appear to rest con-
corning the status OF the Isle Of Pines
and your rights as residents Of that
island.
Is No Procedure.
There is no procedure by which you
and your associates can lawfully estab-
lish 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 obed-
fence to the laws Of that country 30
long as you remain in the island. II
you fall in that obedience you will be
justly liable to prosecution in the Gu
ban 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, IL approved
by that body, will relinquish 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 ac-
cords to Cuba what is hers in accord
ance with international law and JUS
tice.
At the time Of the treaty of peace.
which ended the war between the
United States and Spain, the Isle Of
Pines was and had been for several
centuries. part Of Cuba have no
doubt whatever that 1t continues to be
q part of Cuba, and that it is not and
never has been territory Of the United
States. This is the view with which
President Roosevelt authorized the
pending treaty and Mr.. Hay signed it,
and l expect to urge its confirmation.
Nor would the rejection Of the pending
treaty put an end to the control of
Cuba over the island. A treaty directly
contrary to the one now pending would
be necessary to do that, 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 1t up against her will. Very
respectfully ELIHU ROOT.