Gilpin observer., 1906-09-20
TAFT GOING TO CUBA.
President Roosevelt's Letter to Cuban
Minister


Oyster Bay.-After protracted In
terview with Secretary of War Taft,
Acting Secretary of State Bacon and
Secretary Of the Navy Bonaparte,
President Roosevelt Friday night ad-
dressed an important communication
to Cuba and arranged to send Secre-
taries Taft and Bonaparte to that is
land on Sunday to make thorough in.
vestigation of conditions there and
lend their influence to restore peace.
Following is, in part. President
Roosevelt'S letter:
"Oyster Bay, Sept. IA.
"My Dear Senior Quesada: In this
crisis in the affairs of the republic Of
Cuba, write you, not merely because
you are the minister of Cuba accred-
tied to this government, but because
you and l were intimately drawn to-
gether at the time when the United
States intervened in the affairs of
Cuba with the result of making her
an independent nation. You know how
sincere my affection and admiration
and regard for Cuba are; you know
that 1 have never done and never
shall do anything in reference to Cuba
save with such sincere regard for her
welfare.
Our Intervention in Cuban affairs
will only come if Cuba herself shows
that she has fallen into the insurrec-
tionary habit; that she lacks the self
restraint necessary to peaceful self
government and that her contending
factions have plunged the country into
anarchy.
Il solemnly adjure all Cuban patriots
to band together, to sink all differ
ences and personal ambitions, and to
remember that the only way that they
can preserve the independence of the
republic is to prevent the necessity Of
outside interference by rescuing it
from the anarchy of civil war.
Under the treaty with your govern
ment l, as President of the United
States, have a duty in this matter
which 1 cannot shirk. The third article
of that treaty explicitly confers upon
the United States the right to inter-
vene for the maintenance in Cuba of
a government adequate for the protec-
tion of life, property and individual lib
erty. The treaty comforting this right
is the supreme law of the land and
furnishes me with the right and the
means of fulfilling the obligation that
l am under to protect American inter-
ests. The information at hand shows
that the social bonds throughout the
island have been so relaxed that life,
property and individual liberty are no
longer safe. l have received authentic
information of injury to and destruc-
tion of American property. 1t is in my
judgment imperative for the sake OF
Cuba that there shall be an immediate
cessation of hostilities and some ar
rangement which will secure the per-
manent pacification of the island.
Il am sending to Havana the secre-
tary Of war, Mr.. Taft, and the assistant
secretary of state, Mr.. Bacon, as the
special representatives of the govern
ment, who will render such aid as is
possible toward these ends. l had
hoped that Mr.. Root, the secretary of
state, could have stopped in Havana
on his return from South America, but
the seeming imminence of the crisis
forbids further delay
Through a desire in this way to
communicate with the Cuban govern
ment and with the Cuban people, am
accordingly sending you copy of this
letter to be presented to President
Palma, and have also directed its i'm
mediate publication. Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
"Senor Don GonZalo De Quesada, ihe
Cuban Minister"