File No. 837.77/73.
The American Minister to
the Secretary of State.
No. 273.]
American Legation,
Habana,
May 25, 1912.
Sir: Referring to Department’s telegram of May
22, in regard to the proposed Nuevitas-Caibarién railway, I have the
honor to enclose copies of communications received from the President
and Secretary of State of Cuba in reply to an informal note from me,
communicating the substance of the Department’s telegram of May
14th.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure 1—Translation.]
The President of Cuba
to the American Minister.
President’s Office,
Habana,
May 23, 1912.
My Dear Mr. Minister: When we talked some
time ago about the subject matter of your note of today’s date you
were unable to explain why I should oppose the bill for the
construction of the Caibarién-Nuevitas railroad as now passed by
Congress. The constitution requires that when the President of the.
Republic vetoes an act he shall return it to the Congress with his
reasons for not sanctioning it. I can find no ground whatever for
disapproving an act of Congress providing for a work, which is
regarded1 as so
beneficial to the country. I regret, therefore, that I am not able
to please you, and beg that you will so inform the Department of
State of the United States.
Yours very truly,
[Page 383]
[Inclosure 2—Translation,]
The Secretary of State of
Cuba to the American
Minister.
No. 515.]
Department of State,
Habana,
May 25, 1912.
Dear Mr. Minister: I received with much
pleasure your note of the 23d instant inclosing copy of a personal
note of the same date addressed by you to the President of the
Republic, in regard to the bill pending in Congress for the
construction under subsidy of the Caibarién-Nuevitas railroad.
Undoubtedly there has, in my judgment, been an error in the statement
contained in the note in question, that, as the Department of State
of the United States now understands the circumstances, it cannot
approve the bill in its present form; for bills pending in our
co-legislative bodies become laws when passed by both bodies and
approved by the President of the Republic, in whom alone the power
is vested to veto them when he deems it appropriate; and therefore I
cannot conceive that in the present legal status of the relations
between Cuba and the United States any Cuban law, and much less any
bill pending in our Senate or Chamber of Representatives, is at any
stage pending the approval of the Department of State at Washington,
or that it requires such approval to become effective.
Very sincerely yours,
