Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-06-13
DOMESTIC,
OFFICIAL.
OFFICIAL.
The SceyctaTy Of state to The President Of the
United States.
DEPARrIENr or STATE,

The SccJCtaTy Of state 10 The President Of the
United States.
DEPARTMENT. Or STATE,
Washington, J,tne >, 1928.
The Secretary oil State having been directed by
;he President 10 report the objects to which the
expenditure has been applied, during tho years
1925, 1926, 1927, of that portion OF the Contingent
Fund for Foreign Intercourse, which has been au-
ded at the Treasury, in conformity with the third
section OF the actot the lst May, 1910, entitled
= An act fixing the compensation OF public Minis
ters aud Consuls residing OF the Coast OF Barbary,
and for other purpose " so far as those objects Can
now be disclosed TO the public, without pref adice
10 sincress, has the honor to submit the follow
ing statement:
That there was expended and audited, agreeably
~ the provisions of the aforementioned section, in
the years
1925, the sum Of 81 700 90
1926, ,666 GO
1927, S,95S OF
Making an agercgatc eI Sl2,324 81
The whole OF this sum was expended in the
foreign service OF the Government. The sum OF
81 zoo, part OF it, was paid before the commence
inent OF The present Administration, 10 wit: 500
on the Ith January, 1928, and i l 900 the lith
February, 1925. Another part OF it, SS,32t o.,
was paid in consequence and in compensation Of
services rendered under instructions given by the
last Administrations These services related 10
highly important interests of the United States in
the Lovant, which faithfully performed
Their duration was, necessarily, not short; and the
only duty which deyolved on the present Admins
;ration was that of fixing aud paying, the termi-
nation of them the amount of just computation.
1t would not be proper to say more on that subject
at present
The residue Of the above aggregate Of $i2,324
G7. TO wit the sum of 1900, was paid to the late
Daniel u. Cook Esq. for a confidential service
rendered tue U. States, in relation TO the Island
OF Cuba.
On the commencement. and during the whole
course OF tue presC nj Administration, one OF the
G
engaged the deliberate attention of the Executive,
than that O its connexioD with, and the possible
fortunes Of the island of Cuba The great extent
oil the commerce. oil the United States with that isl
and, its proximity 10 our Southern border; the char
acter Of its population; the influence which, if it
were in the hands Of either OF certain foreign pow.
crs might be excrtcd various interests of the
People of the United States, aud the dangers from
without and within, with which, was supposed to
bc menaced, were well calculated TO awaken md
keep alive the solcitudc OF the Executive of The
United States. The distracted condition Of Spain,
aud the total reduction Of her power on the CONT
nent of America, induced a general expectation
that an invasion Of the island would be made, Ell
Their separately conformity, by the forces OF some
Of the new Republics which have been organized
out of her former American possessions. lnior-
NATION reached the United States of the actual con-
centraton of forces, and the preparation Of means
with view to such attack. On the other hand
Cuba did not appear 10 DC free from danger, on the
side of Europe. Large squadrons OF two OF tie
greatest maritime Powers Of that portion of the
globe, at different times, visited the West Indies
with the purpose, ascribcd by rumOr, 10 each of
them, OF taking possession and Occupying the ISL
and. Although contrary assurances from tire Coy
ernments OF both those Powers tended 10 quiet, |
they did not absolutely remove all apprehensoIs
OH the part Of tIle American Executive. Whilst |
the Island thus threatened on all sides, from
without, it was known that considerable portion
Of its inhabitants DESTROYS 81 breaking TIE CO.
i0nal cqnnexon with Spain
In this critical state &C things the American
Executive felt itself bound, by the highest and
most responsible duties, to exert constant and
watchfu vigilance To this cause is to be princi- |
yaly traced several measures Of the present Ad- |
Iniris,ration. Among others that presented them |
selves was that Of dcputing confidential agent 10
Cuba, for the purpose Of correctly ascertdnug its
actual condition. II was desirable that the agent |
to be selected should be inhabitant of the Val
ley of the Mississippi, being the quarter of the
Union most Interested Accordingly, on the 7ih
day of December, 1925, letter Of appointment |
md instructions, were transmitted To distinguish.
ed citizen of Louisiana with request that be |
would proceed 10 the Island and execute the trust
offered him. Although there had been some rea- !
son TO expect, from indirect information, that he
would accept, he declined the appointment His
answer y received IN the 10Th day OF February
1926. During the residue of that year, the appre-
tensions Of the Executive in respect TO the fate Of
Cuba, were somewhat aliayCd, though they did
not entirely subsidc. # was still deemed an object
Of sufficient importance to send an agent. And
on the close Of the 18th Congress il being ascer-
sajncd that the late Mr.. Cool. would accept the a.
gency, he was accordingly designated. lie was
recommended By his local position, by his general
Intelligence, by the integrity Of bis character and
~ tie intimate knowledge Of the views OF the
American Government, derived from long partici-
patton in ITS councils An extract from his insruc-
tions, bearing date the I2d March 1927, accom-
p1nies this report. lie was, also furnished with
letter Of Introduction 10 the Captain General of the
siand, personally and adyantageously known to
the President and 70 the undersigned, and who
during his administration Of the Government Of
Cuba, has given strong evidences Of his desire to
maintain friendly relations with the United States.
10 that letter, the general objects Of Mr.. Cooks
arency were communicated. Although the state
OF his health had been low, during the preceding
session !. YVES believed 10 be improving, and to be