New Britain herald., 1925-01-19

in 1904 by Secretary of State John Hay and Cuban Minister Gon2alo de Quesada. The treaty rclinquishcd all claim of right on the island 10 Cuba.
 But negotiating a treaty anl rat- flying it in tho Senate is two differ cnt things Tho treaty had a time limit of seven months for ratinca- ton, and after the Senate failed to ratify, and in fact cmasculatcd other of Mr. Hays treaties, notably those for arbitration of disputes that noted statesman was moved to re- mark:
 "A treaty entering the Sen
 ate is like bill going Into tho
 arena: no one can say just how
 or when the final blow will fall
 but ono thing is certain
 it will never leave the arena
 alive
 Dispute over the ownership of the island is due. to the fact that it was not mentioned by name in the treaty of peace following the war with Spain. That treaty ccdcd all claims of sovereignty by Spain over Cuba, and cedcd to the United States the island of Porto Rico and other ! islands now under Spanish sov- creignty in the West Indies and the Island of Guam in the Marianas or Ladrones,"
 The State Department has con sistently maintained that the Isle of Pines is a part of Cuba. historical ly and geographically. The Senate committee on Cuban relations got this into the Platt amendment in 1901;
 That the Isle Of Pines shall
 be omitted from the proposed
 constitutional boundaries of Cuba, the title thereto being left to future adjustment by
 treaty."
 But the Plat amendment also re- ouired Cuba to sell or lease to the i United States Hands necessary for coaling or naval stations" etc.
 And in 1903 the government of ! Cuba leased to the United States the naval and coaling stations in Guantanamo and Heha Hondo, and on the same day d treaty was signed in which all claim to the Isle of Pines was rclinquished by the In..cd States in favor of Cuba. A new treaty was then made to cover the ground in thcl origina document which had expired for lack of ratification after the seven- months time-limit expired.
 In this treaty it is stated;
 This relinQuishment on the
 rart of the United States of claim os title 10 the said Island
 of Pines is in consideration oi
 the grants of coalng stations
 in the Island of Cuba hereto
 fore made to the United States
 Of America by the Republic Of
 Cuba"
 Rut the treaty wasn't ratified in the Senate from that time until to- day. It is now up for ratification, pushed forward by the Coolidge ad- ministration as part of its Latin : American policy,
 Ratification is opposed by Amcrj- can residents of the Ilse of Pines estimated at 700. But there arc lo,- o00 Americans who own land in the island. and who purchased 1t upon representations that the island be iongod to the United States.
 The. Supreme Court has had a hand in the diplomatic imbrogio and decided in favor of Cuba. The court held in the case of Pearcy N stranahan. that the Isle of Pines v.S an integral part Of Cuba, and -o he rccurdrl for tariff purposes as foreign territory The decision was haadcl down in 1907. The late Justice F. D@y member of the srnrom5 Court at that time, was secretary nf state and the head o' the American Commission that negotiated the treaty of peace with Snain and IS credited with having been in a position 10 interpret thC intent of tho nogotiators of the , ooacc treaty. He concurrcd in tho ; courts decision.
 , Should thc Senate insis, on con . tinring 10 reject the treaty, it i' held that Cuba will never consent to sell the island, as has been sug' g ges,cd, Government officials hay' stated that the United States vii never consent to attempting to fore her 10 give it mp. At present tn island is governed by the Repub'' of Cuua with tLc consent of th' - rnrnl States.
 Tn. treaty has been G''orabIy re $ ported by tlc Senate foreign rela tons committee on three occasions ! in 19o5, 1922 and 1924; hut it ha: - rerrr been taken to the floor unii - now The belief in Washington N laat < will be ratified,