The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-26
A SAFEGUARD
The Yankees on the Isle Of
Pines Will Be Protected
By New Treaty.

sCAlcdSO, Jan. 26-A washington
special to the Chicago Tribune says:
Important action has been taken by
+ the senate committee on foreign rela-
tons looking toward the speedy rati-
fication of the Isle of Pines treaty, but
with some important amendments
which it is believed will help along
the final vote. These amendments of
course will necessitate submitting the
treaty again to the Cuban authorities.
There is every reason to believe, how
ever, that Cuba will accept the amend
ments without 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 sec
ton which indicates cession of the
island in return for a grant of naval
stations. There will be a new sec
ton requiring the Cuban republic to
give American citizens who have set
tied on the Isle of Pines in good faith
satisfactory system Of representa-
tion In its government.
The senate committee refused to
hear the American delegate from the
Isle of Pines personally, but consented
to look over anything he might sub
NIT in writing .ssa ..t
From the beginning of the difficulty
over the Isle of Pines there has been
only one thing in the way of speedy
the presence on the island of several
hundred good American people who
invested their money In, good faith.
Many of them were deceived as to
the future of the island. Some of the
big land companies undoubtedly did
resort to fraudulent REPRESENTATION to
dispose of the plantations. None the
less, many Americans are there today
who would not be there II: they had
not believed honestly that the. isle
ultimately would come under the ju-
rrisdiction of the United States.
The senate has been slow to ratify'
the treaty in spite Of the fact that
,nine-teenths of the senator's are con-
WINGED the island belongs to Cuba,
and the United States could not and
should not take it under any circum-
stances unless it takes Cuba, too.
There Is no place in Cuba where
American capital and population is
relatively 30 strong as 1t Is in the
Isle Of Pines. The Americans there
are 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 properly protected by the
4Cubans. I ss s 355
This. condit ion Of affairs has induced
the senate to agree to an important
amendment to the Isle OF Pines treaty
Tor the express benefit Of these Ameri-
can residents. The exact form OF the
amendment has not vet been drafted.
In the end 1T Will constitute q pledge
on the part OF the Cuban republic that
these American items. who have
gone to the Isle q Of Pines In good
A faith at time when the nationality
of the island was at least nominaily
In doubt, should have some sort OF
protect ion. n III 8 81 I
The problem isa curious & one and
somewhat diMcult TO solve. No one
wants to force the American residents
ON the Isle Of Pines To- renounce their
allegiance to this country. On the
other hand, II Viz dimcult to zee how
the Cuban republic Dan give any right
OF franchise. Or syen selt-goyernment
to aliens. What thN senAte wants tOS
do is to frame m amen dment which
will pledge the Cnban Tepublic 10 do
4 wise some sort s0f local gOvernnent for
AhA Isle Of Pines which WIN nrotoct
the. Americans Tiers n the matter OF
taxation and geAsfal local govern
Love doss not soy ii 80 = raslts, III
SlS6ha "a. 80, -