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Show Isle of pines most remain with cuba Secretary Root Dashes Hopes oi Colonists in Most Emphatic Em-phatic Way. WASHINGTON, Nov. as -The Administration Admin-istration dashed the hopes of the little band of American colonists on the Ifde of Pines, who have been working toward ih separation of the island from Cuba and Its Inclusion In the United StateH. when Secretary Root, nfier consultation with the President, made public ths text of a letter which ho had addressed to Charles Maynnrd, president of I he American Amer-ican Club Of the lo of Pines defining the attitude cf the united States Government Govern-ment toward the proposed formation of Territorial Government In the island ns a part of the T'nlted States The Secretary was most pointed in the statements In bla letter, which is n follows: fol-lows: Statements Are Pointed "I hnvo received your letter r October 2. in which you say: 'Kindly advise me at your earliest convenience the necessary neces-sary prrv-edue to establish it territorial form of government for the Tsle (f Plne. West Indies. I" R A.' "It Is not port of the dutv nf thf Becre tar of Siai to give advice upon such subjects I think It proper, however, to answer onr Intjulry so far as It may be necessary lo remove an error under which yon appear to be resting; concerning the status of the Isle of Pines ,-in. I vour rljrhis ns residents of Mint Island "There Is no procedure by which VOU and your associates can lawfully' establish a territorial government In that Island. The Island Is lawfully subject to tV.e control con-trol and government of the Republic of "ubn. ana yon and your associa'.'-s are bound lo render obedience tp ths laws of thai countrv so long as you remain In the island if you fnii in that obedience you win justly he liable to proseoutlon In the t'uhan courts and to such punishment punish-ment ns may be provided by the laws of tuha for such offense as you commit. No Claim on the Isle. "You are not likely to have any greater power In the future The treaty now pending before the Senate, if approved by that body, will relinquish all claim of the I'nlted States to the Isle of Pines. In my Judgment the United States has no Substantial claim to the Isle of Pines. The treaty merely accords to t'tiha what Is hers In accordance with International law and Justice At the time of the treaty of peace, which ended the war between the L'nited States and Spain, the Isle of Pines was. and had been for several centuii s. a part of ruha i have no doubt whatever that It continues to be a part of ruha nnd lhat it Is not and never has been territory terri-tory of the L'nited Stales This Is tho view with which President Roosevelt authorized au-thorized the pending treaty and made and signed It. and I expert to urge Its con-fit con-fit mation No Prospect for Futme. Nor would the rejection of the pending pend-ing treaty put an end to the control of Cubs over the Island. A treaty directly contrary to the one now pending would be necessary to .1,. that nnd there i not the slightest prospect of such a tr-ntv being made. You may be quite sure that fuba will never consent to give up the Isle of Pines and that the United States will never try to compel her to give U up against her win. Very respeetfully EI. I HI' ROOT." |