Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1902-04-04
ORDER rnAr MAKES CUBA FREE.
Text of Communication from secrs
tary Root to Gen. Wood.

Text of Communication from secre
tary Root to Gen. Wood.
Secretary Root, of the War Depart.
ment, Tuesday afternoon made public the
following order to General Wood direct
ing him to turn over the control and gov
ernment of Cuba to its people on May ~
next:
Sir: You are authorized to provide fol
the Inauguration, on the goth Of May next,
Cuba; and upon the establishment of sald
government to leave the government and
control Of the island Of Cuba to its people,
Congress entitled: IAN Act making appro
priaton for the army for the fiscal year end
Ing June 30. 1902" approved March ., f90L
Upon the IN, transfer Of G and Icon con
ed you will advise them that such transfer
is upon the express understanding and con-
dition that the new government does there,
upon and by the acceptance t.. areof, pursu-
ant to the provisions of the appendix to the
Constitution of Cuba, adopted by the consti-
tutional 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 cf Spain,
signed mt Paris on the 10th day Of Deccm-
ber, 1898.
1t is the purpose of the United States Gov
ernment. forthwith upon the inaug lration 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
coast defenses of the island. and to avoid
,lcaving the island entirely defcnseless
against external attack, you may leave In
the coast fortiications such small number
of artillerymen as may be necessary for
such reasonable time as may be required to
enable the new government to organize and
substitute therefor an, adequate military
force of it's own; by which time it is antici-
patei that the naval stations referred to In
the statute and in the appendix to the Cen.
stitution above cited, will have been agreed
upon, and the said artillerymen may be
transferred thereto.
You will convene the Congress elected by
the people of Cuba in joint session at such
reasonable time before the Goth of May as
shall be necessary therefor for the purpose
of performing the duties of counting and
| rcctifying the electoral vote for President
ticlc of the Cuban Constitution. AT the same
4 time you will publish and certify to the
| people of Cuba the instrument adopted as
the Constitution of Cuba by the constitu.
l tiona convention on the 21st day of Febru.
| AIRY. 1901, together with the appendix added
| thereto and forming a part thereof, adopted
| by the said convention on the 18th day OF
| June, 1901.
| 1t is the understanding of the Government
! of the United States tnat the Government
of the island will pass to the new President
Il
all the laws promulgated by the Government
| of occupation continuing in force and effect
aud all the judicial and subordinate eNecu
| in the lawful discharge of their present
| functions until changed by the constitutions
| III officers OF the new Government. AT the
same time the responsibility of the United
States for the collection aud expenditure OF
revenues, and for the proper performance
of duty by the officers and employees of the
insular Government will end, and the re
sponsibility of the new Government of Cubs
therefor will commence.
In order to avoid any embarrassment tt
the new President which might arise from
his assuming executive responsibility Will
suborlinatcs whom he does not know, or ii
whom lie has not confidence, and to avoit
any occasion for sweeping changes in thu
civil service personnel Immediately after thu
Inauguration of the new Government ap
proval is given to the course which yo,
have already proposed of consulting th'
Presidcnt-clect and substituting before th
2Oth of May, wherever he shall so desire
for the persons now holding official position
such persons as he may designate Thi
method will make it necessary that the new
President and yourself should appoint rep
resentatives to count and certify the casl
and cash balances and the securities TO
deposits transferred to the new Government
The consent of the owner of the securitie
for deposits to the transfer thereof you will
| OF course, obtain.
The vouchers and accounts in the office o
the Auditor and elsewhere relating to th
receipt and disbursement of moneys durfn
the Government of occupation must neccs
s;lrily remain within the control and avail
able for the use of this department. Access
to these papers will. however, undoubtedl
be important to the officers of the new Go,
ernmcnt in the conduct of their busines
subsequent to the Goth of May. You will
accordingly, appoint an agent to take pos
session of these papers. and retain them q
such place in the Island of Cuba as may b
agreed upon with the new Government unit
they can be removed to the United State
without detriment to the current bushes
of the new Government.
. desire that you communicate the COZ
tents of this letter to Mr.. Palma, the Pres
dent-elect, and ascertain whether the cours
described accords with his views and wishes
Very respectfully,
ELIHU ROOT, Secretary of War
Brigadier General Leonard Wood, AIilitar
Governor of Cuba, Havana, Cuba.
DILLON EPISODE is UNIQUE.