Mr. Squiers to Mr. Hay.

No. 926.]

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.
[Page 240]
[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.

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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 them 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 5½ 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.

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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.

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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.

T. Estrada Palma.