The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-26
MAY THE 10Th THE DATE
A Small American Artillery Force to
Remain There.
UNTIL CUBA CAN ORGANIZE "A FORCE
Il is Explained That This is Done in Order That
the Island May Not be Entirely
DeferSeIess in the
Interim.
(By the Associated Press)


Root this afternoon made public his order
to General Wood directing him to turr
over the control and Government o.
Cuba to it's people on May goth next
The order requires the Cuban Govern
ment to assume all treaty obligations
and directs General Wood to continue q
small artillery force to avoid leaving the
island entirely defenseless until the Gu
ban Government shall have opportunity
TO organize its own force. General Wood
is also directed to convene the Cuban
Congress before May 20.-He also is di-
rected to consult with President-elect
Palma and substitute such persons as
he shall desire for those now holding
official positions in Cuba
The text of the order is as follows:
War Department, Washington, March
oath, 1902.
"Sir: You are authorized to provide
for the Inauguration, on the goth of May
next, of the Government elected by the
people of Cuba; and upon the establish
ment of said Government to leave the
Government and control of the Island OF
Cuba to its people, pursuant to the pro-
visions of the act OF Congress entitled
IAN act making appropriation for the
army for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1902" Approved March 2, 1901.
Upon the transfer of Government and
control to the President. and Congress so
elected, you will advise them that such
transfer is upon the express understand
ing and condition that the new Govern
ment does thereupon, and, by the accept
ance thereof, pursuant to the provisions
of the appendix to the Constitution of
Cuba, adopted by the Constitutional Con-
vention on the 18th of June, 1901. assume
and undertake all and several the obli-
cations assumed. by the United States of
America. and Her Majesty gthe Queen
Regent of Spain, signed at Paris, on the
10th day of December, 1898. 1t is the
purpose of the United States Govern
ment, forthwith upon the inauguration
of the new government of Cuba, to ter
inmate the occupancy of the island by
the United States, and to withdraw from
that island the military forces now in
occupancy thereof; but for the preserva-
tion and care of the coast defences OF
the island, and to avoid leaving the island
entirely defenseless against external at
tack you may leave in the coast fortifi-
cations such small number of artillery
mep as may be necessary, for such rea-
sonable time, as may be required to en-
able the new Government to organize
and substitute therefor an adequate mil
itary force of it's own: by which time il
is anticipated that the naval stations
referred to in the statute and in the aD-
pendix to the Constitution 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 there
for, for the purpose of performing
the duties of counting and recti-
flying the electoral vote for Presi-
dent and Vice President under the fifty
eighth article of the Cuban Constitution
At the same time YOU will publish and
certify to the people of Cuba the instru-
ment adopted as the constitution of Gu
ba by the constitutional convention On
the 21st day of February 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 gov
eminent of the United States that the
government of the island VIII pass to the
new president and Congress OF Cuba as
a going concern; all the laws promul-
gated by the government OF occupation
continuing in force and effect, and ali the
judicial and subordinate executive and
administrative officers, continuing in the
lawful discharge of their present func-
tions until changed by the constitutions
officers of the new government AZ thu
same moment responsibility of the Unit
ed States for the collection and expsndi
ture of revenues, and for the proper per
Torrance of duty by the officers ant
employees of the insllar government viii
end and the responsibility of the rev
government of Cuba therefor will com
mepce.
I'm order to avoid any embarrassment
to the new president which might aris'
from his assuming executive response
bility with subordnates whom he dee
not know or in whom he has no conf
derce, and to avoid any occasion 70
sweeping changes in the civil servic
personnel Immediately after the inaugu
ration of the new government, appToNa
is given to the course which you hav
already proposed of consulting the Pres
ident-eiect and substituting before tn
2Cth of May. wherever he shall 80 de
sire, for the persons now holding Off
cial positions such persons as he ma!
designate. This method will make it ne
cessary that the new president and your
self should appoint representatives t
count and certify the cash balance, ant
tie securities for deposits. transferred
to the new government. The consen
of the owner of the securities for de
posts to the transfer thereof you will o
course obtain.
The vouchers and accounts in tn
office of the auditor and elsewhere re
lating TO the receipt and disbursement
of moneys during the government o
occupation must necessarily remain with