The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-10

The tedious Isle of Pines treaty ia
again at the front. This is n OF the
cases upon which critics OF Senatorial
delay might use their time and paper
more advantageously than in complain
ing about delay on matters which are
better for the careful consideration
given them. The treaty has 10Y limped
and halted along for two years and four
months without final action.
The present disposition is to accept
the judgment of Secretary RooT in pref
,erence to that of the now quite forgotten
Mr.. MEIKLEJoHN, and to "relinquish all
claim of title to the Island of Pines. !"
With that declaration stated In treaty
terms no further statement Is needed
or warranted. 1t is, however, proposed
that we %relinquish our claim to that
which we recognize as belonging to Cuba
only subject to certain specified condi-
tions. If the island is Cuban territory,
as we believe it to be, the United States
has neither legal nor moral right to
attach conditions to the recognition Of
Cuban ownership. The proposal now
under consideration that Cuba, in order
to acquire title to that which is her own,
must declare the island a province or
even a separate municipality with full
local autonomy, puts a heavy strain on
the situation,
We believe that the first suggestion Of
this solution was made in THE Sun. But
the suggestion was made only as the best
Of all possible alternatives. The right
and proper course would be to limit the
treaty to its present Article l., which
merely declares our REIMBURSEMENT Of
claim to title. That done, there might
follow, if we so elected, a diplomatic re-
quest that the island be made a municipal
district in which the Cuban Constitution
would act automatically in the estab-
lishment of home rule. In that case, az
in any other, it would be necessary TO
provide for the exercise of the right Of
franchise by aliens in purely local mat
tiers. These things we might ask as a
courtesy, but under the circumstances
we are absolutely without right to de-
mand them as a condition.
Our position in this matter is illogical
to the verge of absurdity. We are prac-
tically demanding that Cuba as a con-
dition of receiving that which is her own
shall do for American residents in a for
eign country what we decline to do our
selves for the people Of an island which
belongs to us, Porto Rico. On Wednes-
day Delegate LARRINAGA told the Presi-
dent that the Porto Ricans want home
rule. We deny them this privilege. The
Americans who have seen fit to nov to
a Cuban island want home rule and we
propose TO insist that they have it undo
penalty Of depriving a weak neighbor OF
q part Of her rightful possessions.
Let us get to the bottom of this matter.
The Isle of Pines either is or is not Amer
lean territory. This is a question of
fact and not of opinion. If it is ours let
us prove the fact and take the island and
administer its affairs as American ter
ritory. If it is not ours let us say 80
frankly and squarely and turn it over
to its rightful owners, and let the few
hundred Americans resident in it take
the same political chances that have
been taken by thousands of Americans
resident on the mainland. If we canno
trust Cuba to treat decently the few
Americans who have settled on the Isle
of Pines it is high time for us to demand
assurances and guarantees forthe Amer
leans on the mainland and for the S11O,-
900, 900 of American money said to be
there invested.
National honor, common sense and
the square deal alike call for the execu-
ton Of a treaty which simply declares
u REIMBURSEMENT of claim to title.