Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-04-01
ORDER THAT MAKES CUBA FREE.
Text of Communication from Secre
tary Root to Cen W7oaa


Text OF Communication from Secre-
tary Root TO Gen. Wood.
Secretary Root. OF the War Depart
menf, Tuesday afternoon made public the
following order 10 General Wood direct
ing him TO turn over the control and gov
eminent of Cuba TO its people on AIsy 20
next:
SIT; You are authorized TO provide for
the inauguration, ON the 10Th Of May next
OF the government elected by the people of
Sdba' ana upon the establishment OF said
government 10 leave the government and
control OF the island of Cuba To its people
pursuant 10 the provisions of the Act of
congress entitled; An Act making appro-
prlation for the army for the fiscal year end
ing june 70. 1902. approved March = 1901.
Upon the transfer OF government and con
troll to the President and Congress so elect
ca you VIII advise them that such transfer
Is upon the express understanding and CON
dItion that the new government does there
upon and by the acceptance thereof pUfa.i-
ant 10 the provisions of the appendix TO the
Consutution.o Cuba. adopted by the consti-
tuIlonal convention ON the 18th of June,
1901, assume and undertake all and several
the obligations assumed by the United
states with respect TO Cuba by the treaty
between the United States of America and
her Majesty. the Queen Regent of Spain.
signed NJ Paris on the 10th day of Decem-
Der, 1888.
1t is the purpose of the United States Gov
eminent, forthwith upon the inauguration OF
the new government of Cuba. to terminate
the occupancy of the island by the United
states and TO withdraw from that island
the military forces now In occupancy there
OF; but for the preservation and care of the
coast defenses of the island and to avoid
leaving the island entirely defenseieSs
against external attack. you may leave in
the coast fortihcations such small number
of arIillerymen as may be necessary for
nta in1
enable the new government to organize and
substitute therefor an adequate military
force OF its own. by which time 1T Is antici-
pated that the naval stations referred to in
the statute and in the appendix TO the Con-
StitutlOn above cited will have been agreed
upon. and the said artiIlerymen may be
transferred thereto
You win convene the Congress elected by
the people Of Cuba in joint session at such
reasonable time before the 10Th Of May as
shall be Necessary therefor for the purpose
OF performing the duties of counting and
rectifying the electoral vote for President
and Vice President under the ffty-eighth ar
ticle of the Cuban Constitution. At the same
time you will publiSi. and certgy to the
people of Cuba the Instrument adopted as
the Constitution of Cuba by the constitu-
tional convention the DIST day of FeDru-
AIRY, 1901, together with the appendix added
thereto and forming part thereof adopted
by the said convention ON the 18th day of
June, 1901.
of the United States tnat the Government
Of the island will pass to the new President
and Congress of Cuba going concern;
all the laws promulgated by the Government
of occupation continuing In force and effect,
and all the judicial and subordinate exeeu-
tive and administrative officers continuing
in the lawful discharge of their present
functions until changed by the constitution
al officers of the new Government At the
same time the responsibility Of the United
States for the collection and expenditure of
revenues, and for the proper performance
or duty by the officers and employees of the
insular Government will end, and the re
Sponsibility of the new Government of Cuba
therefor will commence.
In order to avoid any embarrassment to
the new President which might arise from
his assuming executive responsibility with
subordinates whom he does not know or in
whom he has not confidence. and to avoid
any occasion for sweeping changes In the
civil service personnel immediately after the
inauguration of the new Government, APP
proval is given TO the course which you
have already proposed of consulting the
President-elect and substituting before the
10Th OF May, wherever he shall so desire
for the persons now holding official positions
such persons as he may designate This
method will make 1t necessary that the new
President and yourself ,hould appoint rep
reSenJatiVeS to count and certify the cash
and cash balances and the securities for
deposits transferred to the new Government
The consent of the owner of the securities
IOr deposits TO the transfer thereO1 you Will,
of course, obtain.
The vouchers and accounts In the Office of
the Auditor and elsewhere relating to the
receipt and disbursement of moneys during
the Government of occupation must neces-
sarily remain within the control and avail
able for the use of this department Access
to these papers will, however, undoubtedly
be important to the officers of the new Gov
eminent in the conduct of their business
subsequent to the Goth of May. You viii,
accordingly. appoint an agent to take hos
session of these papers. shAd retain them Mt
such place in the Island of Cuba as may be
agreed upon with the new Government until
they can be removed to the United States
without detriment to the current business
of the new Government.
L desire that you communicate the con-
tents of this letter to Mr.. Palma the Presi-
and ascertain whether the course
described accords with his views and wishes.
Very respectfully.
ELIHU ROOT, Secretary Of War.
Brigadier General Leonard Wood, Military
Governor of Cuba, Havana, Cuba.