facts to the police, and Acting Mayor Castano ordered immediate investigation. He, in company with other civil authorities, called at the consulate to express their regrets. Mr. Squiers reports further that he has urged upon the Cuban Government the necessity for measures to prevent further disorders. The President has sent the commander of the rural guard to investigate, and has also instructed the local authorities to make every effort to detect and punish the perpetrators of the outrage. Both the President and Mr. Zaldo have expressed extreme regret over the occurrence.) No. 853.] Mr. Squiers to Mr. Hay. AMERICAN LEGATION, SIR: I have the honor to confirm on the overleaf my telegram to the Department reporting an outrage committed against the United States consulate at Cienfuegos, and to inclose copies of correspondence had with the foreign office. Everybody, from the President down to the lowest official concerned, has been most profuse in apologies and regrets. Mr. Palma, as a result of my protests, immediately sent General Rodriguez to Cienfuegos to inquire into the situation and, if he found it necessary, to provide for a stronger force of rural guards. I also sent Captain Hanna to look over the situation, to the end that you might be as closely informed as possible. DEAR MR. ZALDO: The following telegram is just received from the United States consul at Cienfuegos: When entering the consulate this morning, at 6.30 o'clock, the janitor called me to the entrance, where I found the door besmeared and the coat of arms literally covered with mud. No other violations were attempted. Have reported facts to the police, and acting Mayor Castaño ordered immediate investigation. He, in company with other civil authorities, called at the consulate to express their regrets." In view of the generally reported state of unrest and disorder now existing in Cienfuegos I must advise that prompt efforts be made toward the detection and punishment of those guilty of this outrage upon the United States consulate. Ordinarily such acts may not deserve serious attention, but under the existing circumstances it would be very unwise to allow this outrage to pass unnoticed and unpunished. The news of this will be printed in every American paper to-morrow, and the impression will depend upon the action of your Government in restoring law and order. I beg to request that the local authorities be instructed to make an immediate investigation of the complaint made by Consul Baehr, and that I be informed of the result. With renewed assurance of my high esteem and consideration, I am, etc., H. G. SQUIERS. [Inclosure 2.-Translation.] Mr. Zaldo to Mr. Squiers. REPUBLIC OF CUBA, DLPARTMENT OF STATE AND JUSTICE. DIVISION OF STATE, Habana, February 1, 1904. DEAR MR. SQUIERS: I am officially commissioned, in the name of the Government, to present to you our most energetic disapproval of the occurrence which has happened at Cienfuegos, of which you informed me in your letter of yesterday. We propose that the author of such a low crime, which has greatly pained the Government, shall not remain without punishment. I shall have the highest pleasure in transmitting to you the results of our investigations at an opportune moment. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 853, of the 12th ultimo, regarding the outrage on the United States consulate at Cienfuegos. In reply I have to say that in view of the apologies made and the precautions taken to prevent a repetition of the insult, the Department is of opinion that the incident may be regarded as closed. (Mr. Squiers reports that two batteries from Santiago and two from Habana will leave to-night on the transport Sumner. The Cuban Government has shown every mark of respect to the departing troops, and the President and members of the cabinet and other officers were present at the review at which the President made the following address to the troops: "Under the emotions I now experience it is not an easy matter to express all that I should like to say on this momentous occasion, but the sincerity of the feelings which overflow my heart must supply the deficiency of my words. "We are in the presence of the most extraordinary fact recorded in the annals of universal history. "We are here to see off from our shores the remainder of the troops of the United States left in Cuba after helping us in securing our independence and the blessing of freedom. "They could stay longer under any pretext whatever, they could serve to impose upon us an unjust demand, but the Government of the United States, identified with the liberal spirit and noble character of the American people, is willing, on the contrary, to prove the disinterest and sincerity of the aid rendered to us, showing, at the same time, that we have, as an independent people, the confidence of one of the most powerful nations on earth. "The example set forth by the United States in withdrawing the troops from Cuban territory reflects upon them an everlasting glory and causes us to be proud of ourselves, since it means that nobody doubts our competence for self-government, our ability to maintain peace, to keep order and guarantee the property and personal rights of all the inhabitants of the island. "This is a new service conferred upon us, which, with the others previously received, will bind forever with a strong tie of sincere gratitude the Cuban to the American people. "Now, I beg you, Honorable Minister Squiers, to be the interpreter of these feelings to the Government and people of the United States, and I beg all present to bid godspeed to the officers and soldiers now leaving us, and to express our wishes for the increasing prosperity and welfare of the American nation.") No. 845.] Mr. Squiers to Mr. Hay. AMERICAN LEGATION, Habana, February 5, 1904. SIR: Confirming on the overleaf my telegram of yesterday, regarding the departure of the United States artillery from Santiago and Cabaña (Habana) on the U. S. transport Sumner, I have the honor to say that while in the United States but little attention may be paid to the final withdrawal of our troops from the island the Cuban Government has been strongly impressed by this final act in our Cuban policy. I wired Mr. Palma's address in full, as he particularly desired that the President be informed of how sincerely grateful he is— speaking for his people-to the United States for its policy of generosity and fair dealing. That our position here is better than it ever has been is, to my mind, beyond any doubt, and, further, they have a stronger and better government than most people were willing to admit was possible. I am, etc., H. G. SQUIERS. MESSAGES OF THE PRESIDENT OF CUBA TO THE CONGRESS OF No. 926.] CUBA. Mr. Squiers to Mr. Hay. AMERICAN LEGATION, SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith a translation of the President's message transmitted to Congress on the 4th instant. I have, etc., H. G. SQUIERS. [Inclosure.] The President of Cuba to the Congress of Cuba. To the Congress: The fifth legislature of the National Congress having been inaugurated, it becomes the duty of the Executive to inform the two legislative chambers of the present state of the Republic and the acts of administration from the middle of January last, when the sessions of the last legislature terminated. The satisfactory state of our diplomatic relations has varied in no wise since my message of November 2, 1903. Since that date the Republic has established diplomatic relations with another new American nation, the Republic of Panama, which was recognized by the Executive on December 23 last, after receiving official notice from the Panama Government that the territory of the Isthmus had been erected in an independent state and after other governments of Europe and America had recognized it. Cuba now has a consular agent in that Republic. In my previous message I mentioned the idea of sending an envoy extraordinary to all the nations of South America for the purpose of greeting thein and establishing with them friendly relations. Considering the purpose a good one, I have the honor to recommend to the Congress now that it grant an appropriation for the expenses thereof, estimated at about $12,000. The treaty relative to recognition by the United States in favor of Cuba of the Sovereignty over the the island of Pines, signed July 2, 1903, lapsed by the ratifications not having been exchanged within the stipulated period, caused by the American Senate not having approved it in time. Our minister in Washington and the Secretary of State of the United States have signed a new treaty, exactly the same as the first one, with the sole exception that no date is fixed for exchange of ratifications, so as to avoid a repetition of the original cause for the treaty lapsing. This is the only treaty of those comprised in the appendix to our constitution that is pending with the United States. A few days ago the American Senate sanctioned the permanent treaty called for by article 8 of said appendix. It was necessary to renew this last treaty because the period for ratification expired without the United States Senate having approved it. It is necessary, therefore, that the Cuban Senate should sanction the new treaty, so that the exchange of ratifications may take place. In accord with the reasons advanced by the tariff and tax committee in its report to the House of Representatives on December 14, 1903, with regard to the Brussels sugar convention, I recommend to the Congress that it authorize the Executive to adhere to the said convention in behalf of the Republic of Cuba, and to modify paragraphs 293 and 294 of the present tariff so that the import rates on refined sugars shall not exceed 6 francs per 100 kilos or 54 on other sugars, this in harmony with the provisions of article 3 of the said Brussels sugar convention. The modification of articles 293 and 294 is necessary as a matter of absolute necessity, for the reason that it is possible that the English market be closed to us if we maintain said articles in our tariff. Then the only market open to Cuban sugar would be the United States market, and it would be at the mercy of trust refining companies. On the reciprocity treaty going into force the following doubts arose: If the benefits of the treaty should be given merchandise imported in bond and not declared for consumption prior to the 27th of December, on which day the treaty took effect; if American or Cuban articles exported to another country and afterwards reembarked and imported into Cuba or the United States, respectively, should also enjoy the benefits of the treaty. Both Governments agreed to decide these questions in the affirmative-in the first case because the articles in question could be exported and then reimported into either of the two countries, thus enjoying the benefits of the reduction of tariff rates--in the second case because the terms of the treaty are not subject to a restrictive interpretation on the point in question. However, to avoid that articles of another nation might secure advantage of the benefits the Government has proposed to the United States Government that the two agree to fix indispensable conditions and requisites, so as to thoroughly prove that articles for which the benefits of the reciprocity treaty are claimed in such cases are genuinely products of one of the two contracting countries. I have previously referred to negotiations under way toward making treaties of amity, commerce, and navigation with some of the nations with which we have mercantile relations. The result has been the signing in this city, on December 29, 1903, of a convention of that kind with Italy, which has already been submitted to the Senate for its approval. Negotiations with respect to the United States, France, and England are well advanced, and we hope to shortly carry them to a satisfactory close. Negotiations have recently been initiated with the Government of Spain for making a treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, and the department of state is working on a draft of treaty submitted to our consideration by that Government. Other drafts of treaties relative to postal relations and industrial and literary rights of ownership have been presented for our approval, some of which are now under study, others, the terms of which have been accepted, being on the way to final conclusion. Among the drafts of postal conventions there are some on exchange of parcels and postal orders, to which special attention is being given, because such conventions contribute to the aid of small commerce and introduce our home products in foreign countries. The Government has been specially invited by the United States Government to participate in two congresses to be held in St. Louis under the auspices of the exposition. One is a congress of lawyers and jurists, to be held in September of 1904, for the purpose of discussing important questions of international law. The other is a congress of military surgeons, to be held October 10 to 15. The Postal Union Congress, which was to be held in Rome in April, 1904, has been postponed to the same month in 1905. As the Italian Government had duly invited Cuba to take part in that congress I inform the legislative chambers of the postponement for such action as they deem best. This country has also been invited by the same Government to take part in an exposition to be inaugurated in Milan in 1905. That exposition will be an international one, and shall comprise transportation and safety methods and artistic manifestations. Buildings are already under erection for the Liege Exposition, to which the Government of the Republic was formally invited, as I have had the honor to inform the Congress in my two previous messages. It would be well, therefore, if the Congress decides that the nation is to be represented in that exposition, to make an appropriation to cover necessary expenses. I take the liberty to suggest that $20,000 will be sufficient. The Republic of Haiti has accredited a diplomatic representative, with the title of chargé d'affaires, near this Government. Cuba's vice-consul will reach said country in a few days, and he will be accredited with equal character as soon as the Senate approves the nomination. So will the consul of the first class now in the Republic of Santo Domingo be accredited as chargé d'affaires before the Government of that country. I close this message by giving expression to my faith in the growing prosperity of the nation, under the protection of the democratic institutions ruling us, and as a result of the wise measures of the legislative chambers. PRESIDENT'S PALACE, Habana, April 4, 1904. T. ESTRADA PALMA, Mr. Sleeper to Mr. Hay. No. 1116.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Habana, November 10, 1904. SIR: I have the honor to confirm on the overleaf my telegram not printed] of the 7th instant, relative to the opening of the present session of the Cuban Congress, and to advise you that the session commenced at 3 p. m., with more than two-thirds of the members of each house present. FR 1904 M- -16 |