File No. 811.304M28/21.
The Secretary of State to
Minister Jackson.
Department of State,
Washington, May 23,
1910.
No. 50.]
Sir: I inclose herewith a copy of a letter from
the Secretary of War, stating that the President has approved the act of
Congress which provides for the raising of the wreck of the U. S. S. Maine, a copy of which I also inclose, and asking
that the consent of the Cuban Government be obtained.
You are requested to familiarize yourself with the correspondence on the
subject in the files of the legation, and to avail yourself of an early
opportunity to address to the Cuban Government a note asking its consent
to the raising of the wreck.
I am,
[Inclosure.]
The Secretary of War
to the Secretary of State.
War
Department,
Washington, May 10,
1910.
Sir: I am advised that the President has
approved H. R. 23012, Sixty-first Congress, second session, a bill
which provides for the raising of the U. S. battleship Maine, in Habana Harbor, and the interment of
the bodies therein, subject to certain conditions, one of which
provides “that the consent in proper form of the Republic of Cuba
shall be first obtained.”
In pursuance of the foregoing, I have the honor to request that
proper presentation be made to the Republic of Cuba, with a view to
obtaining the required consent.
The Secretary of War and the Chief of Engineers, United States Army,
are charged with the duty of carrying out the provisions of the
act.
A copy of the bill as reported to the Senate is inclosed
herewith.
Very respectfully,
[Page 418]
[Subinclosure.]
Raising of battleship Maine.
[Public, 169—61st Cong.]
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of America in Congress
assembled, That the Secretary of War and the Chief of
Engineers are hereby authorized and directed to provide with all
convenient speed for the raising or the removal of the wreck of the
United States battleship Maine from the
harbor of Habana, Cuba, and for the proper interment of the-bodies
therein in Arlington Cemetery; and the Secretary of War is
authorized and directed to remove the mast of the wreck of said
battleship Maine and place the same upon a
proper foundation in Arlington National Cemetery at or near the spot
where the bodies of those who died through such wreck are interred:
Provided, however, That the consent in
proper form of the Republic of Cuba shall be first obtained. The sum
of one hundred thousand dollars is hereby appropriated, out of any
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, on account of the
work herein authorized.
