Evening star., 1925-01-16
ISLE OF PINES PACT
IN SENATE FIGHT
Treaty Up for Final Settle
ment After 20 Years
in Committee.

The question Of ratification of the
treaty recognizing Cuban sovereign-
W over the Isles of Pines, taken up
a1ter a repose of 20 years in the
nies OF the foreign relations COM
mittee, continued to occupy the Sem
ate today under the agreement call
ing Tor final action at this session
senator Ralston, Democrat, Indiana,
VINO opened the opposition attack on
the agreement yesterday on ths
ground that 1t was unconstitutional.
was prepared to conclude his remarks
today.
Senator Swanson of virginia rank
ing democrat on the foreign rela-
lions committee, led proponents of
the treaty in the opening debate in
VIGOROUS speech declaring the
united states was morally obligated
10 recognize Cuban soyereisnty over
the Isle In return for the naval coal
ing station granted the United States
at Guantanamo.
RaIston Reneyvs Attack.
without any authority at law. the
roosevelt administration "delIberate-
~ abandoned" the Isle of Pines and
lts people to the Republic of CubA.
senator Ralston declared, in renew
ing mis- address today against ratifi-
cation
quoting from a letter written In
1910 by Elihu Root. then Secretary
OF state, holding the Isle of Pines
nao from the first been, a part OF
CuoA and that President Roosevelt
concurred In that view, Senator Raj
ston said here was the solution to
the astounding situation" of terri.
tory recognized by the Mckinley ad-
ministration as part of the tynited
states being under the governmental
control of Cuba
Regarded q. s. TERRITORY.
senator Ralston presented q num-
Der or official documents TO show
that during the Mckinley adminis-
tration the island was regard ed as
part OF the United States and that
american citizens were led to invest
there under expressed Statements
from official representatives of the
Government that 1t was a territory
OF this country. The island was even
listed on the official map as Amer, :
can territory.
Referring to the opinion of the
Onited states Supreme Court on the
subject. Senator Ralston said the
only holding Of the court was that
the island was de facto under the gov
eminent OF Cuba and, therefore, was
Foreign territory" so far as Ameri-
can tariff laws were concerned. He
also called attention that the court
mad divided, Z to 2. on the opinion,
Associate Justices White and Holmes
ming a dissenting opinion in which
they criticised Chief Justice Fuller
Tor his obiter dictum concerning the
de jure questions.
Debate Brings Conflict.
Conflicting views on ratification OF
the treaty we're presented Yesterday.
when the Senate finally began con-
sideration Of the pact under an agree
ment calliag for a final vote this ses-
sion.
Senator Swanson of Virginia. rank
Ing Democrat on the foreign relations
committee, vigorously urged ratifica-
ton Of the treaty. insisting the United
States owed the isle to Cuba under
an agreement which gave to the
American Navy a coaling station at
Guantanamo.
The agreement was assailed as un-
constitutional, however, by Senator
Ralston, Democrat, Indiana who de-
layed completion of q lengthy argu-
ment until today.
Senators Ralston and Walsh, Demo
Gratis, Massachusetts,, declared the
isle, being a considerable distance
away. was not in a class with other
islands closer to II. which had been
ceded to Cuba. Senator Mccormick
Republican, Illinois, replied that the
isle was. no different from others
about Cuba either geographically or
historically.
Force and only force" Senator
Swanson asserted, "can tear the Isle
of Pines from Cuba. This Nation will
never vote to use this force to per-
petuate this injustice at the behest
of any one. War will not be INDUCED
In by the American people to obtain
territory to which they are not en-
titled"
ANEpTrANyc nrur n