File No. 811.304M28/72.
The American Minister to the Secretary of State .
Habana , April 2, 1912 .
In concluding his message read in the opening of the Congress yesterday afternoon, President Gómez said:
I do not wish to conclude this message without recording an event that has demonstrated to the entire world the close ties of affection which bind us to [Page 309] American people. I refer to the imposing obsequies and the manifestation of mourning accorded to the remains of the sailors found in the wreck of the battleship Maine, and the removal of the wreck from our jurisdictional waters. Our Government and the American Government were associated in this act and, inspired by a common sentiment, fulfilled a pious duty.