The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-18
HELP FOR YANKEES
/. ON ISLE OF PINES.
Senate to Amend Treaty with
Cuba So as to Safeguard
Americans.
No Question Of cuba's Title to
the Island Is to Be
Raised. IL.

Special to The Journal.
Chicago, Jan. 1S.-A Washington spe-
cial to the Chicago Tribune says:
Important action was taken by the
senate committee on foreign relations
today looking toward the speedy ratlti-
cation Of the Isle Of Pines treaty, but
with some important amendments which
VOTE These amendments Of course will
necessitate submitting the treaty again
to the Cuban authorities. There is
every reason to believe, however, that
Cuba will accept the amendments with
out hesitation.
The treaty will stand substantially
as it was submitted in the first place by
the state department., but there will be
an amendment eliminating the section
which indicates cession of the island
in return for a grant of naval stations.
There will be d new section requiring
the Cuban republic to give American
citizens who have settled on the Isle OF
Pines in good faith satisfactory sys-
tenn of representation in it's government.
The senate committee refused to hear
the American delegate from the Isle
Of Pines personally, but consented to
look over anything he might submit IN
writing.
One Stumbling Block.
From the beginning of the difficulty
over the Isle of Pines there has been
only one thing in the way Of a speedy
ratification Of the treaty. That was the
presence on the island Of several hun
dred good American people who invest
ed their money in good faith. Many OF
them were deceived as to the future of
panies undoubtedly did resort to fraud
ulent representation to dispose Of the
plantations. None the less, many Amer
| leans are there today who would not be
there if they had not believed honestly
that the isle ultimately would come un
der the jurisdiction Of the United
States. ,.
The senate. has been slow to ratify
the treaty in spite of the fact that nine
tenths of the senators are convinced the
island belongs to Cuba, and the United
! States could not ard should not take il
under any circumstances unless it takes
fCuba, too. There is no place in Cubs
where American capital and population
is relatively so strong as it is in tn,
Isle Of Pines. The Americans there ar,
outnumbered, Of course, by the Cubans
but the Yankee settlers are aggressive
and progressive. They have money
they understand what a Representative
government means, and they are fearful
that their interests will not be properl,
4 protected by the Cubans.
Protect Americans.
This condition of affairs has induce,
the senate to agree to an importan
amendment to the Isle Of Pines treat,
for the express benefit Of these Amer
can residents. The exact form Of tn
amendment has not yet been drafted
In the end it will constitute a pledg
on the part of the Cuban republic tina
these American citizens, who have gon
; to the Isle of Pines in good faith at
time when the nationality Of the islam
: was at least nominally in doubt, shout
have some sort Of protection.
Difficult Problem.
The problem is curious one an
somewhat difficult to solve. No on
wants to force the American resident
on the Isle Of Pines to renounce thei
allegiance to this country. On the othe
hand, it is difficult to see how the G,
ban republic can give any right Of fral
chise, or even self government to alien
What the senate wants to do is to fran
an amendment which will pledge tt
5 Cuban republic to- devise some sort
local government for the Isle Of Pin,
which will protect the Americans the1
in the matter of taxation and gener
local government.