Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
WANT ISLE PRESERVED
AS PART OF UNITED STATES.
(continujed from Page ~

comment Is not baset. on assumption
or hearsay evidence, but upon the cor
respondence that passed and other
notions.
The fact is that a military govern
ment was established on the island
under direction Of General Wood. At
or about that time the statement was
made by Assistant Secretary Of War
Micklejohn that the Isle of Pines was
q part of the United States This
statement was officially made and the
records are said to prove 1t. Further
than this, the general land Office of
the interior department, in preparing
a new map of the United States, in
cluded this island, and Binger Herman,
now member Of congress, who was
then commissioner Of the general land
office, made the declaration on the
floor of the house that the change In
the map was made upon the specific
order Of President Mckinley, at the
time an order was made r. che se s>t:dte
map SO as to inclya \, "a; q, at
e1;s1e ts6fy @ TIE Ohfssu States.
y Approved Action.
Not only did the war department ap-
prove the acts of General Wood in ap-
pointing mayor of the Isle Of Pines,
but he gave out statements which
were printed broadcast, in which the
desirability Of the Isle Of Pines as a
place of investment and residence
were pointed out in glowing terms.
There appears to have been no doubt
In the mind of anybody or question as
to the ownership Of this island until
In drafting the amendment which
bears his name, the late Senator Platt,
of Connecticut inserted the words:
"that the island Of Pines shall be omit
ted from the proposed constitutional
boundaries of Cuba, the title thereto
being left to future adjustment, by
treaty"
OF course, this did not say that the
island belonged to Cuba but it certain
". opened the door Of doubt, at least.
It made 1t clear to Cuba that there
was some lingering question as to the
sovereignty Of the territory and there
upon fight was begun for possession.
Secretary Root, of the war depart
ment directed General Wood to in
form the new Cuban government that
1.-THE present government Of the Isle
Of Pines will continue as a de facto
government, pending the settlement of
the title, etc" At that time the at
fairs of the Isle of Pines were under
the control Of United States military
officers operating from Cuba.
Transferred to Cuba.
Governor Wood, instead of obeying
instructions actually transferred the
Isle of Pines to the Cuban government,
then just coming into power. In some
manner this fact was overlooked until
It came to the attention of the Ameri-
he Isle If WI n
ldema ..ded an explanation. A treaty
was then negotiated "for the adjust
ment of the title to the Isle of Pines
this treaty being signed March Q, 1904
It was declared in this treaty that the
United States received certain coaling
and naval base concessions on the is
land of Cuba, and it further appears
that the grants" made were In the
form Of a lease signed July 2, 1903
In which the United States obtains
Guantanamo and Bahia Honda in con
.sideration of a payment of $4,000 in
gold, annually.
Senator Morgan, in a minority re.
port, describes the pending treaty as
an afterthought to cover plain viola.
ton of the law There are a good
many people who believe that the pre-.
sent treaty is an effort to get General
Wood out Of hole for blunderingly
transferring the Isle of Pines to Cuba
when his instructions were plainly to
the contrary.
In the meantime the Iowans and
other Americans on the island who
were induced to go there under prom.
Use of American sovereignty and the
protection Of this government are left
to hold the bag.
Frank. ]. Stillman.