The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-01-11
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SECRETARY ROOT AND
THE ISLE OF PINES.
e Savannah News.
S ~ x x x K x ~ x < y

When few weeks ago Mr.. Rooi.'
Secretary OF State, said very posi-
uVely that the Isle of Pines was CUBAN
territory interest in the question as 10
whether the island was territory OF
the United States or Cuba in a great
measure died out. It was assumed
that he was thoroughly informed IN
regard to the matter and that ne
wouldn't have ventured to make so
positive statement if he hadn't been
in a position to do so. Being the
leading member Of the cabinet and
having thes confidence of the Presi'
dent II was taken for granted that the
ownership Of the island was settled
so lar as this country was concerned.
II seems, however, that the Amer
can residents Of the island do not cou-
slider that IL is settled In a letter
dressed 70 Mr.. Root, Mr.. Charles
Reynard, president of the Am rican
CLUB OF the Isle of Pines, makes a
pretty strong argument 10 show that
the island belongs to the Urited States.
In the course of his l,tter Mr.. Rey.
nard asks Mr. Root questions which
may cause him some embarrassment.
1t Is expected that the treaty which
this government has made with CUBA
respecting the island will come up in
the Senate for ratification this week,
and II is announced that it will meet
with opposition. Some of the senators
have expressed the opinion that the
American residents on the island have
3 AnnnlT06 n ssfo oh &c hnno1I=n
OF promises made by representatives
of their government, and that they
are justified in demanding that these
rights b protected. Many of these
residents are Pennsylvauians and
Senator Fenrose of Pennsylvania is
going to uphold them in their conten-
ton that the island is American terri
tory. 1t is probable, Their; fore, that
the American people will be made ac-
qualnted withsa good many new facts
connected with the treaty Of Paris and
/ the American occupation of Cuba b.
fore the vote on the question of the
ratification of the treaty IS taken.
Mr.. REWARD contends that Spain
coded the Isle o. Pines to the United
States. and that it was clearly under
stood by both Spanish and American
commissioners who framed the treaty
of Paris thai she did He also says
that by the terms of the constitution
of Cuba the island is expressly ex-
cluded from the constitutional bounda.
ries of Cuba and ths il is particularly
excluded from Cuban territory by the
| act of congress known as the Platt
amendment. He points out that Pres
ident Mckinley recognized it as Amer
lean territory as did General Wood,
when ne was military governor OF
Cuba.
And the foregoing is not the whole
: of Mr.. Reynard' s case He says no de-
partment c. the government of the
United State& except the State De-
parfment, has r. cognized the island as
Cuban terrist5 The Treasury De.
partment has pointedly declined to so
recognize j as such by refusing to ad-
NIT its products TO our markets on the
same terms that the products OF Cuba
are sdmitted Mr. Reynard says that
American s1f4hofity would still be in
force there n an official of the War
Repartment had not Numbered. and
that it is fOre the purpose of covering
up that blun5er that the treaty pend.
ing in the senate was negotiated
These are only few of the points
made by Mr. Reynard in his letter. bur
they are sufficient to- show that the
American residents of the island have
some foundation for the claim they
are making that they are living under
the authOrityrOf the limited States and
not OF Cuba. Mr. Root. in his state.
ment to the public some time ago. did
not undertake to give his reasons for
saying the Island belonged TO Cuba,
but so eminent a lawyer and states
man as he is wouldn't have been Sc
positive in what he said if he had not
been sure of his ground. OF course al
the facts in the case will be brought
out in the debate on the question of
ratifying the NJ ndinc trpatv