Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-29
ISLAND BELONGS TO CUBA
Secretary Rost Writes Letter to Rsvolu-
tionisis in ls,e Of Pines
UNITED STATES HAS NO CLAIM TO LAND
lie Tella Them They Must obey
the Laws OF Cuban Govern
ment or suffer Con-
sequences.

sequences.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2S.-The admins
tration today dashed the hopes Of the little
band Of American colonisgs 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 Secre-
tarS Root, after consultation with the presi-
dent. made public the text Of a letter which
he had addressed to Charles Raynard,
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 state
ments in his letter which is as follows:
have received your letter of October %,
in which you say: kindly advise me at
your earliest convenience the necessary
procedure to establish territorial form
of government for the Isle OF Pines, West
4 Indies, United States OF America
IL Is no part of the duty Of the secretary
OF state to give advice upon such subjects.
| think IL proper, however to answer your
inquiry so far as IL may be necessary to
remove an error under which YOU appear
to rest concerning the status of the Isle
OF Pines and your rights as residents Of
that island.
There is no procedure by which you and
: territorial form of government In that is
land. The island is lawfully subject to the
control and goyernment of the Republic of
Cuba and you and your associates are
bound to rendW obedience to the laws OF
that country So long as you remain in the
| island II you fail in that obedience you
will be justly 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
senS1ej II 3ppIpGyed oy shqt GSdy wil re- 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 accordance
with international law and justice,
At the time Of the treaty Of peace which
ended the war between the United States
and Spain, the Isle of Pines was, and has
been for several centuries, n part of Cuba.
] have no doubt whatever that II continues
to be a part of Cuba and that it Is not, and
never has been. territory of the United
States. This presents 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
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 Il up against her will. Very respect
fully, ELlHU ROOT,
shin Subsidy Bill Discussed.
The merchant marine commission, com
loscd of senators and representatives, held
a meeting today to consider amendments
to the ship subsidy bill presented to the
last congress. Those present were Senator
Gallinger, chairman; Senator Lodge and
Representatives Minor of Wisconsin and
Spight of Mississippi. Eugene T Chamber
lain, commissioner of navigation. also was
in attendance. The commission took up
the revision OF the bill by sections, making
: several verbal changes for the sake Of
added clearncss and precision, and limiting
the subventions absolutely TO ships en-
gagged principally in the foreign trade. as
distinct from the coastwise commerce from
which foreign compe tition has always been
! excluded Another amendment provides
specifically that no vessel receiving a sub
vention under the terms OF the bill shall
receive any other subvention, bounty or
subsidy from the United States. Still an
other amendment requires that onc-hat OF
the deck force of ships receiving subven-
tions shall he able seamen who have served
at least two years on deck. The commits
sion is considering the question of provd-
ing especial and extra inducements for
American vessels TO participate more
largely than now in the carrying trade be-
tween the United States and the Philip
pines. The committee will meet again on
Friday.
Piercing Power of shells.
What an eight-inch armor piercing shell,
fired at a distance Of 1900 yards will do
to the side of an armored cruiser, pro-
tected by a fve-inch armor plate on a
protective deck nearly three inches thick
tagt
at the naval proving grounds at Indian
head today. The shell pierced the five
inch plate. went through the inclined
protective deck and buried itself IN the
coal bunker. The test was in the pres
ence of the Board Of Construction Of the
Navy department and officers OF the bu-
reaus of ordnance, steam engineering
equipment and construction and repair
The detailed conditions under which the
test was conducted are kept In confidence
The results OF the tests will be considered
at an early meeting Of the Board of Con
struction In connection with armor TO be
supplied to the new ships.
New Inauguration Day.
The last Thursday Of April was decided
upon today at the meeting OF the uational
committee on the proposed change of in
auguration day as the day to recon-
mend TO congress for future presidential
inaugurations. II was decided that no
action should be taken on proposing a
new date for the assembling of congress.
The vote was unanimous. The committee
having the matter under consideration
consists Of fifteen residents of Washington
and the governors of the states and terri
tories.
Missouri Foot Rail Player Dies.
A lnharl IlrANa.ll