The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-03-26
March 25.-May 20

AlaI is the date set Tor turning I
the government over to its people The /.
means by which the great republic /
gives birth to the smaller one is de- /
scribed in the following order to Cen
eral Wood.
War Department. Washington. /
March "A, 1902.-Sir, You are author ,
lied to provide for the Inauguration |
on the goth OF May next of the govern /
ment elected by the people Of Cuba, /
and upon the establishment of said /
government to leave the government I
and control of the island Of Cuba to |
its people, pursuant to the provisions Of |
the act Of congress, entitled, An act I
making appropriation for the army for |
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1902
approved March 2, 1902.
Upon the transfer Of government .
and control to the president and con- /
gress so elected you will advise them /
that such transfer is upon the express !
understanding and condition that the /
new government does thereUpon and by /
the acceptance thereof, pursuant to the |
provisions of the appendix TO the con-
stitutiOn of Cuba, adopted by the con- |
sutuuOnal 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 at Paris I
on the 10th day of December, 1888.
Uncle Sam to Leave Island.
ct is the purpose of the United
States government forthwith, upon the
Inauguration of the new government |
of Cuba. to terminate the occupancy of
sU.- eel. 1 -,
withdraw from that island the milf
tary forces now in occupancy thereof /
but for the preservation and care Of
the coast defenses Of the island, and to
avoid leaving the island entirely de-
fenseless against external attack, you
may leave in the coast fOrtificatiOns
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 sub
stitute therefore an adequate military
force of its own; by which time it is
anticipated that the naval stations re-
ferred to in the statute and in the APP
pendix 70 the constitution above cited
viii have been agreed upon and the
said arulerymen may be transferred
thereto.
you viii convene the congress elect /
ed by the people of Cuba in joint ses-
sion at such reasonable time before
the goth Of May as shall be necessary
therefor. for the purpose Of performing
the duties of counting and ratifyins the
electoral vote for president and vice
president, under the fifth article of the
Cuban constitution. At the same time
you viii publish and certify to the peO-
pie of Cuba the instrument adopted as
the constitution of Cuba by the consti-
tutional convention on the DIST day of
February, 1901, together with the ap-
pendiX added thereto and forming a
part thereof, adopted by the said con-
vention on the 18th day of June 1901.
It is the understanding of the govern /
ment of the United States that the
government of the island viii pass to
the new president and congress Of Cuba
as a governing concern, all the laws
promulgated by the government of oc-
eUpation continuing in force and ef-
feet, and all the judicial and subordi-
nate executive and administrative Of
fcials continuing in the lawful dis
charge of their present functions until
changed by the constitutional officer
of the new government
Shifting the Responsibility.
AT the same moment the response |
bility OF the United States for the col /
and for the proper performance of duty
by the officers and employees Of the in
sular government viii end and the re-
sponsibility Of the new government of
Cuba win therefore commence.
I'm order to avoid any embarrass- /
ment to the new president which might
arise from his assuming executive re
sponsibilities with subOrdnates whom
he does not know or in whom he has
no confidence. and to avoid any occa-
sion for sweeping changes in the civil
service personnel Immediately after
the Inauguration of the new govern (
ment approval is given to the course [
which You have already proposed of
consulting the president-elect and sub
stituting before the 10Th of May, Wher-
ever he shall so desire, for the persons
now holding official positions, such per-
sons as he may designate. This meth
Cd viii make it necessary that the new
president and yourself should appoint
representatives to count and certify the
cash and cash balances and the securi-
ties for deposits transferred to the new
government.
1.-THE consent Of the owner of the
securities for deposits to the transfer
thereof you viii 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 necessarily remain within the
control and available for the use of this
department
To Notify President Palma.
Access to these papers will. how
ever. undoubtedly be important to me
officers of the new government in the
conduct of their business subsequent to
The 10Th of May. You viii accordingly
appoint an agent to take possession of
these papers and retain them at such
place in the island of Cuba as may be
agreed upon with the new government
until they can re removed to the
United States without detriment to the
current business Of the new govern
ment.
81 desire that you communicate the
contents of this letter TO Mr.. Palma,
the president-eIect. and ascertain
whether the course above described ac-
cords with his views and wishes. Very
respectfully, ELIHU ROOT,
Secretary OF War
The order issued by General Miles
and General Corbin to carry out the
directions given above. so far as re-
lates to the return Of the United States
troops from Cuba, provides that the or
ganizations shall take stations as fol-
lows:
Second cavalry, first squadron and