Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-11-30
Went There Under Impression
That il Was United States
Territory.
WAR DEPARTMENT so HELD.
Change of Sentiment Said 20 be Due
TO Need of Something for Trad.
ing Purposes With Cuba.
snecial CORRESPONDENCE.

Special Correspondence.
Washington, d. c., Nov. 25.--The
treaty between the United States and
cuba, over the cession Of the Isle Of
Pines, to the latter country. now pend
ing before the senate committee on
foreign relations has a rocky road
to travel before Its ratification
In reply to a resolution Of the SEN
ate of Jan. Z, 1904, the entire cores
pondence had with citizens OF the
United States. and the war and state
department, upon the question Wheth-
err the Isle Of Pines was a part Of the
territory Of the United States, was sent
10 the foreign relations committee, by
Col. Clarence r. Edwards, chief Of
the bureau of insular affairs. The COR
Iespondence was voluminous including
as il did memoranda made by the Of
ficers in charge during American oc-
cupancy OF the island. cabinet officers
and others together with maps ana
detailed information regarding the is
land, That correspondence with It's
attendant information. bearing directly
upon the question as to The sovereignty
OF the island was never made public.
but when 1t Is made public IL viii un-
questionably throw new light upon
what promises to be very delicate
subject for the government To handle.
WAR DEPARTMENT BULLETIN
In 1902 the war department issued
an Isle of Pines bulletin of 40 pages
with maps showing physical features,
inhabitants, resources and industries
which was distributed broadcast
throughout the United States. As a
result of the advertisement given the
Isle Of Pines, by the war department,
and the claim set up Immediately at-
'ter the close OF the Spanish American
war by the then assistant secretary Of
war; George y. Melklejuhn, that the
Isle Of Pines was United states terri
tory large numbers Of Americans pur-
chased lands thereon, laid out farms,
erected fences, and put In crops. Towns
Were started and pOgtofiices established
under the immediate direction Of Gen.
Wood then military governor Of Cuba.
one colony Of Americans purchased IA
COZ acres which was divided into farms
and on which are now located families
from Ohio. Indiana, New York Illinois
and other states, The Isle Of Pines
company composed of New York. New
JNlGtJ anu ItlilltHoaf PiRlla pun ia sci
100000 acres costing not less than Si5,-
coo, The Iowa colony, comprising a
families and about $50 people, pur-
chased 00OO acres which they are now
farming They laid out a town which
they called New Columbia, and Gen.
Wood established postoiiice at that
place, Citizens of Teyas, Minnesota,
Nebraska and Kentucky are also there
and vitality interested In having the
Isle OF Pines declared by Congress
United States territory, In addition 20
the pamphlet descriptive Of the island
and its physical conditions. which Is de-
scilbed as having one of the most salu-
brious climates Of any Of the islands m
the caribbean sea- "A large map was pre-
pared by the war department Of the
island. which was marked as belong
Ing TO the United states. This map
was sent out generally TO those seeking
informa ton but later on was sup
pressed when the law officers Of the war
department took the ground that the
sovereignty OF the Isle OF Pines was
Subject to treaty
A CHANGE OF SENTIMENT.
In talking to a representative Of the