Evening star., 1925-01-16
ISLE OF PINES TREATY FIGHT
BRINGS OUT OPPOSING VIEWS
Supporters of Cuba's Claim, to Island Possession
Countered With Claims of american, Millions
INFESTED by United States Citizens.

with 1.-The Senate fight for ratifca-
tion Of the Isle of Pines treaty, more
than 20 years old, we'll launched on
Capitol Hill, friends Of Cuba, on. one
hand, and persons interested in the
Isle Of Pines, on the other. are align
ing In an under-the-crust battle on
international equities versus protec-
ton of vested American interests. !"
Senator Swanson yesterday sounded
the keynote in the Senate for the
friends of Cuba; statement by the
Isle sof Pines Chamber of Commerce
outlined the stand of the opposition.
Cubas friends contend that to re-
fuse ratification will have a power
full and detrimental effect on the
standing of the United States in pan
American affairs; that refusal will
bring in its wake new complications;
that IL will tear down the structure
OF confidence being reared by this
country in the heart of Latin Amer
lea
American Interests Claimed.
The opposition contends that more
than 10000 Americans are interested
in the Isle OF Pines financially; that
they became interested under the be-
lief that the Isle Of Pines would be-
come American territory; that to sur
render II to Cuba would be in con-
travention TO all the treaties concern
ing the island.
Here's the way Cuba's friends out
line the history of the island and the
aspect II has assumed in International
affairs:
After Columbus discovered America
Spain took dominion over the West
Indies, and under Spanish government
Cuba and surrounding islands existed
for three centuries. From the early
150os until December 10, 1898, when
Spain relinquished Cuba in the treaty
of Paris, at the close of the Spanish
American War, the Isle of Pines was
regarded as part of the Island of Cuba
by every gauge of ownership. 1t was
part of the Province of Havana. and
was so governed. Census reports
piled on this basis.
Spain Relinquished Control.
John Hay and Justice Day, commits
sioners at the negotiation of that
treaty, definitely expressed the nom
acquisitional intent of the United
States by drawing up the treaty so
that 1t read to the effect that Spain
relinquished dominion over Cuba. But
that treaty did not say that Spain re-
linquished dominion "to the United
States" Spain merely "relinquished'
all rights in the island
When Spain relinQuished Cuba. say
the friends of the Cuban government
here, Spain relinquished the Isle of
Pines, for the Isle Of Pines, unlike
other islands, was In Cuba's front
yard, only a score of miles from the
Cuban island.
On March 2. 1901, however. the
Platt amendment, passed by both
houses of Congress. was signed by the
President. This amendment provide d
that the Isle of Pines status should
be settled by a separate treaty at a
later date. Under the insistence of
the United States, this proviso was
included as an amendment in the Gu
ban constitution, during the same
year Around this time consideration
was being given to the esta blishment
of protective fertilization off Cuba
1t was decided later to make Guam
tanamo this naval base, and Cuba
felt that the Isle of Pines should re-
main part of her territory.