Treaty Series No. 709
Treaty Between the United States of America and Cuba, Signed at Washington, March 2, 19043
The United States of America and the Republic of Cuba, being desirous to give full effect to the sixth Article of the Provision in regard to the relations to exist between the United States and Cuba, contained in the Act of the Congress of the United States of America, approved March second, nineteen hundred and one, which sixth Article aforesaid is included in the Appendix to the Constitution of the Republic of Cuba, promulgated on the 20th day of May, nineteen hundred and two and provides that “The island of Pines shall be omitted from the boundaries of Cuba specified in the Constitution, the title of ownership thereof being left to future adjustment [Page 12] by treaty;” have for that purpose appointed as their Plenipotentiaries to conclude a treaty to that end:
- The President of the United States of America, John Hay, Secretary of State of the United States of America; and
- The President of the Republic of Cuba, Gonzalo de Quesada, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Cuba to the United States of America;
Who, after communicating to each other their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following Articles:
Article I
The United States of America relinquishes in favor of the Republic of Cuba all claim of title to the Island of Pines situate in the Caribbean Sea near the southwestern part of the Island of Cuba, which has been or may be made in virtue of Articles I and II of the Treaty of Peace between the United States and Spain, signed at Paris on the tenth day of December eighteen hundred and ninety-eight.
Article II
This relinquishment, on the part of the United States of America, of claim of title to the said Island of Pines, is in consideration of the grants of coaling and naval stations in the Island of Cuba heretofore made to the United States of America by the Republic of Cuba.
Article III
Citizens of the United States of America who, at the time of the exchange of ratifications of this treaty, shall be residing or holding property in the Island of Pines shall suffer no diminution of the rights and privileges which they have acquired prior to the date of exchange of ratifications of this treaty; they may remain there or may remove therefrom, retaining in either event all their rights of property, including the right to sell or dispose of such property or of its proceeds; and they shall also have the right to carry on their industry, commerce and professions being subject in respect thereof to such laws as are applicable to other foreigners.
Article IV
The present treaty shall be ratified by each party in conformity with the respective Constitutions of the two countries, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in the City of Washington as soon as possible.
[Page 13]In witness whereof, We, the respective Plenipotentiaries, have signed this treaty and hereunto affixed our seals.
- In English and Spanish; Spanish text not printed. Ratification advised by the Senate, with reservation, Mar. 13, 1925; ratified by the President Mar. 23, 1925; ratified by Cuba Mar. 18, 1925; ratifications exchanged at Washington, Mar. 23, 1925; proclaimed by the President Mar. 24, 1925.↩