New-York tribune., 1906-08-20
THE ISLE OF PINES.

We have received a letter from corre-
spondent at Waterbury, Conn, asking The
Tribune to use It's influence for the annexation
Of the Isle Of Pines to the United States, and
saying This island belongs TO the United
States by all right and title and this country
fought to establish its government there. Cuba
"has no right to It," We regret to say that we
cannot accede to our correspondents request
nor agree with the opinions which he expresses.
On the contrary, we believe Cuba has a right
TO that island, and that it does not belong to
the United States by any right or title.
Down to the end Of the Spanish war, in 1893,
the Isle OF Pines had been for nearly four cen
turtles universally recognized as an integral part
Of Cuba geographically and politically. There
was never any question Of that on the part Of
Spaniards, CHbans, Americans or any one else.
Nor was there anything in the Cuban revOlu-
tion or in our war of intervention to change
that status. When Congress in April, 1898, de-
manded that the government Of Spain at once
"reinQush its authority and government in the
"Island of Cuba and withdraw its land and
naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters"
It meant the Isle of Pines, also, as q part of
Cuba When # added, in the TELLER resolu-
tiOn,' that after pacifying Cuba it would
"leaye the government and control Of the island
10 its people," it meant the Isle of Pines as
we'll as the rest of Cuba. When in the Treaty
"quishes all claim of sovereignty over and title
"to Cuba" it was understood that she relin-
quished her sovereignty over and title to the
Isle OF Pines as a part of Cuba, just as much
as over the Province of Pinar del Rio. There
was no perceptible ground for any other under
standing.
It is true that the Treaty Of Paris also pro-
vided for Spans cession to the United States
of "PortO Rico and other Islands now under
Spanish sovereignty in the West Indies or
"the other islands," as the Spanish text had it.
But as Cuba (incudng the Isle Of Pines) had
already been disposed Of in the preceding ar
ticle of the treaty, 1t does not seem possible
that any part of Cuba was meant to be in
Guided in the "Other islands" There is no more
reason for suppOsing the Isle OF Pines was
thus reserved than that the thousand and more
other islands, large and small, which surround
Cuba and have always been administrative
part of Cuba. were thus rent from Cuba and
given to the United States. The "other islands
must have meant those other than Cuba and
Porto Rico to wit, Mona, Culebra and Viequez
This view appears TO have prevailed during the
American military occupation of Cuba.
AS that occupation drew toward its close it
was regarded by this government as essential
that the United States should secure certain
coaling and naval stations on the Cuban coast
and should retain n certain supervision over
some Of the affairs Of the island. Accordingly
the ''PIatt Amendment was adopted and was
added 10 the Cuban Constitution, and its sixth
article provided that the Isle OF Pines shall
"be omitted from the proposed constitutional
boundaries Of Cuba, the title thereto left TO
future adjustment by treaty" In that there
was no claim Of American ownership of the