Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 2, 1902

Mr. Squiers to Mr. Hay.

Legation of the United States,
Habana, June 2, 1902.

No. 5.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a translation of the President’s message.

The message recognizes a Higher Power in the affairs of Cuba, a recognition which has called forth considerable unfavorable comment from a certain class of Cubans, as is generally the case in a new republic; acknowledges the debt of the Cuban people to the United States; advises strict economy in the administration of the Government; shows the necessity for promoting all branches of agricultural industry; states the necessity for reduction in our tariff in favor of Cuba; promises to open negotiations looking toward a reciprocity treaty; calls attention to the necessity for good municipal government; pays a very high tribute to the American provisional government on account of general improvement in sanitary conditions and recommends that the work be continued; calls attention to the present state of penal institutions, where the prisoners lead lives of idleness; shows necessity for an honest judiciary, and takes up at some detail the matter of education; advises bringing in foreign capital for the exploitation of railways; regrets that the financial condition of the country is not now favorable to a military pension list; advocates cultivating most cordial relations with all nations and particularly with the United States, and urges that a good understanding must exist between the legislative body and executive power.

To us the message is not of great interest outside of the reference to sanitary conditions, a pension list, and Cuba’s relations with the United States. Regarding the matter of sanitation, the matter seems to be passed over very lightly and not given that importance which the necessity certainly demands. His resolution regarding the pension list ought to be very gratifying as it indicates economy in administration, which, under present or even more favorable conditions, is the only hope for a good and lasting government.

While I have not had sufficient time to form an opinion as to the general situation, I have been impressed with the confidence which Cubans of all classes seem to have in Mr. Palma’s honesty of purpose and his desire to do what is best for the country as a whole, regardless of special interests or particular political parties.

I have, etc.,

H. G. Squiers.

[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Message of Tomás Estrada Palma, President of the Republic of Cuba, to the Congress of Cuba.

Let our first acknowledgments be to Almighty God, as an act of thanksgiving for the work which with His help we have accomplished, and beseech His divine protection, in order that the people of Cuba, which now takes rank as an independent and sovereign nation, may firmly establish a stable government and proceed always along the pathways of justice, resolutely pledged to the maintenance, with right and lofty criterions and noble intent, of the democratic institutions which serve as bases for the Republic of Cuba.

Never have a people struggled with more perseverance nor been subjected to greater sacrifices in their unbending purpose of acquiring the blessed benefits of regenerative liberty, nor, consequently, have any people more greatly merited seeing their efforts crowned by the realization of their noble ideals and worthy aspirations.

Cuba on this memorable date takes her place in the family of nations and commences the pursuit of her rightful destiny, in conformity with the precepts of the fundamental law decreed and affirmed by the legitimate representatives of the people united in a constitutional assembly to that end.

It is unlikely that such an event will be seen again in the course of many centuries, and it is even more unlikely that it be carried into effect under like circumstances to those which have accompanied the birth of our Republic. These circumstances, in fact, have been so special as to make it impossible not to acknowledge and remember them.

Joined to the traditional heroism of three generations of patriots is the splendid attitude of a great people, who, consulting only their love of liberty, put themselves resolutely at our side in the tenacious struggle which we sustained for the independence of our country. The motive was simply a generous sentiment, pure and disinterested in its origin. At the impulse of this sentiment the powerful Republic of the North recognized the independence of Cuba, through their illustrious President, William McKinley, fought for her, and took upon herself the obligation to deliver the island and its government in due course. This formal promise has now been faithfully fulfilled by the no less illustrious President, Theodore Roosevelt. At this moment, in which we feel ourselves to be men of our own right, and people free and independent, it is impossible to repress the gratitude which overflows from our bosoms, and which we owe to the people and to the Government of the United States, as intense as our love for Cuba, as lasting as must be the good received.

To acknowledge, in this historic moment, the debt so contracted, to proclaim our gratitude to the great Republic which has aided us, and to inaugurate the Cuban nationality, is an act which exalts our people, and which makes them worthy of the consideration and respect of the other peoples of the earth.

Our country, having been organized in the form of a free Republic, in accordance with the fundamental law already promulgated, makes it necessary that the statutory laws, which are the complements of the constitution, be enacted, and that there be made all those acts which have as purpose the strengthening of the bases of an orderly Republic, capable of filling, in itself, all the ends of civilization, and of duly complying with the obligations and engagements entered into.

The existence of a people, as of individuals, depends absolutely upon the means of livelihood which they possess, and, consequently, our first duty is to assure to the state a sufficient sure income to cover, within a regimen of prudent economy, the inevitable expenses of the distinct departments of the public administration. With this in view, and guided by discreet foresight, the budgets must he made up in order that, counting upon definite receipts, the total amount of the disbursements may be less than that of the income, since it would be expedient to arrange for a reasonable surplus set apart for emergencies or for public services of undoubted utility.

The budget is, in a way, the motive power of the wheels of state, for which must be set a regular, harmonious, and uninterrupted movement, as, if in any case it be insufficient to procure this end, there would be a disarrangement of the gear of the governmental machinery, bringing with it discredit to the Republic, both at home and abroad, and accompanied, perchance, by grave danger touching the future of the Republic.

The Government proposes to present to Congress a general budget of expenses to serve as an index to the economic life of the Republic, but this labor, difficult in itself even in normal and well-regulated conditions, becomes more difficult at this time in which the transition from one system of government to another exacts the almost complete transformation of the administrative organisms, and carries with it the alteration or obligation of certain services, and the creation of new ones, fitting the order of things which has been effective since the 20th day of this month.

The practice of the American military administration of providing only for the expenses which the public services demanded, by setting apart funds for periods of two months, instead of formulating annual budgets, obliges me to call to the attention of Congress the necessity of adopting means to avoid the embarrassing situation which may shortly be experienced. Appropriations have been made only for the expenses of the public administration up to the 30th day of June next. As within that time the budgets can not be approved, it will be impossible for the Government to make provision for the expenses of the nation, as it lacks the power to dispose of the funds of state. The consequences of this condition of affairs are so manifest that the Congress can not fail to appreciate them, and, anticipating this contingency, will surely adopt such measures as their patriotism suggests.

The development of our national and industrial wealth is intimately connected with the budget. In direct proportion to the productive capacity of the country, the exportation of Cuban products will be augmented, and in the same ratio our purchasing power abroad will also increase. It therefore follows that the expediency of promoting, by all direct or indirect means at the command of the Government, the improvement of those branches of agricultural industry which we now possess, the creation of other branches of industry which may readily be established on our soil, and the building up of the cattle industry, which must be restored at the earliest possible moment to the degree of prosperity formerly enjoyed by it. The importance of the agricultural problems can not fail to be seen by anyone in a country where the principal wealth is derived from the soil, nor is it possible to overlook the many benefits that will be obtained by the establishment of agronomic stations for the purpose of improving and perfecting the culture of sugar cane and tobacco, as well as the introduction of the culture of other plants useful as the bases for new industries.

While still ignorant of the resources at our disposal and of the result of the efforts now for some time directed to the reduction of the import tariffs into the United States, it is almost impossible to determine the measures for facing the crisis through which are now passing the two primordial fountains of the national wealth, agriculture and industry. On the other hand, the Government can give assurance that it is well advised of the present situation, and that it will devote to it all proper attention, recommending opportunely to the Congress the steps which, in its judgment, should be taken for meeting it.

A prime factor contributing to the profound economical crisis now oppressing the country is the ruinous price of sugar due to the excessive production of beet sugar in Europe. The immediate remedy would be to obtain a satisfactory reduction in the American tariffs, an object to which the endeavors of the Executive will henceforth be dedicated, and who, at the same time, will open negotiations for the conclusion of a reciprocity treaty in the hope of securing advantages for the Cuban producer.

The continuance of social life imposes as a prime necessity the regular and orderly progress of the public service, without interruptions which, if at all times injurious, would be even more prejudicial at a time when it is of supreme importance to maintain the efficacious action of all the springs of administration and government. In this regard there will be only such changes made in the personnel of the administration as shall be deemed necessary.

The municipal arrangements must receive early attention. In these lie the root by whose means must be nourished the highest organism of the Government. It is idle to speak of their importance. Inasmuch as the mayors and councillors are to-day performing their functions by virtue of an election effected by direct suffrage, they fit perfectly, with respect to this particular, in the mold of the constitution, but in so far as refers to the organization of the town councils and the attributes of these and of the mayors, this is not true. It is therefore urgent for the legislative body to formulate the municipal law, within the meaning of the constitution, as soon as possible.

On the other hand, the constitution creates a completely new body, the provincial councilors, whose cooperation with the municipal administration and with the State, and whose intimate connection with the civil governors calls for the enaction without delay of a statutory law regulating their actions. Otherwise, we would have a body without legal conditions for its operations. The councilors, consequently, will, although for an indefinite time, have a nominal existence, and will not be able, therefore, to regulate the procedure of the civil governors, who are subordinate to them in the economic order; but, seeing that in the provincial sphere the civil governors are the highest governing authority, it is proper to authorize the Executive, giving to this branch of the aministration the necessary uniformity, to look after the indispensable expenditures.

The preservation of public order is the first duty of every government, and for assuring this we have to depend only upon the scant personnel of the rural guard and the artillery corps, so that suffice to say that the tranquillity and security of the public rest upon the proper police of the country, in the common confidence and the surpassing interest which we all have in raising to the greatest height the authority and prestige of the nascent Republic.

If the public forces in the outlying districts are to be a firm guaranty for the person and a safeguard for the interests of all, it is indispensable that provision be made as soon as possible for the necessities of this service, duly increasing the rural guard and organizing it under the most rigid discipline.

I acknowledge a debt of justice, very pleasing to me, in recognizing that the American intervention has improved the sanitary condition of Cuba to such a degree that the death rate can even now, without discredit, be compared with that of communities where the sanitary conditions have been arranged according to the most modern and efficacious methods. But it is also incumbent on me to say that, up to this time, there remain to be done certain works absolutely necessary for guaranteeing the present satisfactory conditions. The means taken for procuring the entire disappearance of yellow fever as the exponent of an exceptional sanitary condition, may perhaps be successful, inasmuch as they treat of a programme of such magnitude as not only to relate to the internal welfare, but to claim serious consideration as regards the international well being.

Charitable enterprises shall receive the most careful attention, not only because of the humanitarian duty involved, but because patriotism places us under the obligation of caring for the orphans which the mishaps of war have left unprovided for. This can be accomplished with relative economy, because, through the piety of our people, there have been accumulated considerable resources for the maintenance of asylums and hospitals.

I have to invite attention to the present practice in our penal institutions, which calls for prompt and radical modification. The life of idleness, in community, which is the usual course followed, lends itself more to instruction in vice than to the reformation of moral delinquents.

A very important factor in the development of material and moral interests is the good administration of justice, as this is the first guaranty and the best safeguard of the respect for property and other civil rights. To decree the laws regulating the exercise of the judicial functions and prescribing the principle of permanency of the functionaries of this branch, ought to be one of the first duties of Congress. In this way there could be expected from the judges and magistrates the independence of action which they require in order to proceed, free from all influence, without other desire than the right and honorable application of the laws.

I shall devote myself with especial solicitude to public education in the several divisions of university, high school, and primary instruction.

It is not long since a new plan, intended to give a more practical character to the studies which are pursued in the university, was adopted. In a matter of such transcendental importance to the intellectual growth of our people, I shall proceed with moderation, to the end that due consideration be given, on the application of the improvements introduced, to the results of the experience and the counsels of the wisdom of the university itself. Exponent, as it is, of the highest culture, the Government feels consummate interest in its apogee and splendor, and shall endeavor to provide for its necessities and so make way for the due fulfillment of its high ideals.

There have also been effected in the high schools certain reforms analagous in tendency to those brought to bear in the university. Perhaps a little later, when the conditions of the general instruction shall permit, it will be deemed proper to vary in somewhat its organization, in order to combine it with the primary education.

This latter has experienced a radical change. The merited importance has been given to the branch, and I declare it to be my purpose to devote my energies to the building up of the public schools, convinced as I am that in them lies the future of our country.

The primary education to-day has an administrative and technical organization more adequate to the principles of pedagogy. As a result of these reforms there are now receiving instruction in our schools a number of scholars so largely increased as to find no precedent in the annals of our primary instruction.

It is but just to give tribute of warm applause to the intervening Government for its zeal in the diffusion of education. The number of schools now existing, as compared with those of note prior to 1895, is great; but even the present number is not sufficient, for, in fact, the whole problem of the future of Cuba rests in the school. Wherefore, the Government will look with extraordinary interest to the improvement of this branch, in so far as the economic condition of the country may permit, to the end that the benefits of instruction may reach those places hitherto untouched.

Means of communication are essential to the development of the country and indispensable to the easy movement of agricultural products, but the works undertaken and the rapidity of their conclusion are necessarily in closest possible relation to the pecuniary means at disposal. The Government, notwithstanding, will direct its endeavors to conserving in the best condition existing works and to finishing such as are now in course of construction.

It will be your duty to invite the greatest possible exploitation of railroads, giving to the capital invested in them all kinds of guaranties, at the same time stimulating the extension and improvement of the enterprises already on foot, as well as the establishment of new enterprises that may seek to avail of the shelter of the statutes now effective or of such as may hereafter be enacted.

The Executive bears in mind the engagements entered into by the revolutionary government with the liberating army, and if at the moment the means for fulfilling them are not at hand, it is only due to the bad economic situation of the country, and ignorance of the actual resources upon which the State may count for meeting the ordinary needs of the administration.

It is indeed lamentable that at this moment it should be impracticable to attend to an obligation so sacred as that of requiting the services of those who struggled arms in hand, and of alleviating the sad condition at present suffered by the widows and orphans of many of those who died so gloriously for the fatherland.

It must be very pleasing to all of us that the Republic of Cuba should have been officially recognized not only by the United States, but by the Governments of Great Britain, Italy, France, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Santo Domingo, Ecuador, and Paraguay.

It is to be hoped that other Governments may do likewise, and that we may be able to count upon the good wishes and friendship of the foreign nations.

On our part, we must improve the occasion of cultivating with all of these the most cordial relations, endeavoring to conclude such treaties of friendship and commerce as may be favorable to the interests of Cuba. To the facilitation of this result, we shall have to accredit in the several countries consular agents and such diplomatic representatives as may be deemed essential.

We shall, in addition, take especial pains to secure at all times a perfect understanding between the United States and ourselves, in order that there may never be even the slightest difficulty in the arrangement of those political and economical matters as commonly interest the two countries.

If the benefit of friendly and cordial relations as with other States is universally admitted, it is certainly still more necessary that, within the Republic of Cuba, there be maintained a lofty spirit of unvarying concord which may bind together all the people as a unit, resolutely determined upon the conservation of the Cuban nation for the material and moral progress of the country and the individual and collective welfare of all the inhabitants in the island.

Can anyone deny that unity and mutual agreement among the members of an association are the most certain guaranties for the lasting existence of that association? Hence, among us who have just assumed the responsibilities of an independent people, it is absolutely indispensable that the noble example of harmony, concord, and unity which we have given to the world in these first days of our political existence continue as the normal state maintained by us in our life as a nation. A factor of the most exceptional importance in this much-desired concord is the good understanding which should always subsist between the legislative bodies and the executive power. These constitute the government of the State in accordance with the principles of the constitution now ruling us. The regular conduct of the public administration necessarily depends on the agreement and harmony which may subsist as between the various powers, on the confidence which the senate and house of representatives may have in the patriotism and good faith of the executive body.

Only in this way can there be the most perfect cooperation regarding the needs, true interests, and positive necessities of the Republic. To this end I pray that the Supreme Being may guide us and strengthen our spirit so that there may be observed in all of our actions a constant and discreet prudence and right judgment at the inspiration, pure and disinterested, of our great love for Cuba.

T. Estrada Palma,
President of the Republic of Cuba.

Habana, May 26, 1902.