Clinton Backs Puerto Rico Vote On Statehood

President Clinton pledged his support Thursday for an islandwide vote to determine Puerto Rico’s relationship with the United States, a century after U.S. forces stormed the Caribbean island.

Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Rossello wants the island to be the 51st state.

Clinton has pushed for the plebiscite to be held in 1998, halfway through his second term and 100 years after the United States seized control of the island from Spain.

In a letter read at the governor’s inauguration Thursday, Clinton supported a vote to let Puerto Ricans choose between statehood, commonwealth status or independence.