Mr. Hay to Mr. Day.
Washington, October 7, 1898.
Your No. 4 received and is satisfactory to the President. It was not to have you open the question which you have properly regarded as closed, but to have you assist if possible in the carrying out of the [Page 923] terms settled by the protocol, to wit: The immediate evacuation of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the other islands of the West Indies. The evacuation commissioners have not, so far as we are advised, discussed the relinquishment of title and sovereignty in Cuba and Puerto Rico on part of Spain; that was settled by the protocol. They have discussed only the details of evacuation. Your proposal to go forward without mentioning questions before commission at Habana is approved by the President.