I take this solemn occasion, which marks the fulfillment of the honored promise of the Government and people of the United States in regard to the island of Cuba, and in which our country is made a ruling nation, to express to you, the worthy representative of that grand people, the immense gratitude which the people of Cuba feel toward the American nation, toward its illustrious President, Theodore Roosevelt, and toward you for the efforts you have put forth for the successful accomplishment of such a precious ideal. THEODORE ROOSEVELT, President, Washington. T. ESTRADA PALMA. HAVANA, May 20, 1902. The Government of the island having been just transferred. I. as Chief Magistrate of the Republic, faithfully interpreting the sentiments of the whole people of Cuba, have the honor to send you and the American people testimony of our profound gratitude and the assurance of an enduring friendship, with wishes and prayers to the Almighty for the welfare and prosperity of the United States. T. ESTRADA PALMA, SECRETARY OF WAR, Washington. HAVANA, May 20, 1902. I have the honor to report to you that in compliance with instruc tions received I have this day at twelve o'clock sharp transferred to the President and Congress of the Republic of Cuba the govern ment and control of the Island to be held and exercised by them under the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Cula. The documents sent to me were read and Mr. Palma in accepting th responsibilities on behalf of the Island expressed himself in kind and endearing words and thanked the Republic of the United State and its officials for all that has been done for Cuba and for the fulfillment of promises made. The ceremony was most io pressive, and I embark on the "Brooklyn" with my staff for the United States. WOOD. WASHINGTON, D. C., June 10, 1902. The ADJUTANT-GENERAL U. S. ARMY, Washington, D. C. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that the Republic of Cula was established at 12 o'clock noon, May 20, 1902. The transfer was made upon the lines indicated in the instructions of the honorable, the Secretary of War, and the autograph letter of the Presi dent read to President Palma and presented to him. President Palma responded, expressing his sincere appreciation of the work done by the United States in Cuba and the lasting gratitude of himself and the people of Cuba. The transfer was made in the main reception hall of the palace of the military governor. There were present the President-elect and his cabinet; the military governor and the officers of his staff; civil and military; the Cuban Congress; the judiciary; officers of the British and Italian navies; the captain and staff of the U. S. S. Brooklyn; and the consular representatives of foreign countries. The document of transfer was read at exactly 12 o'clock. President Palma at once read his reply. During the reading of the document of transfer and the reply of President Palma a salute of 45 guns to our flag was being fired. Upon the conclusion of this salute the troops of the Seventh U. S. Cavalry, which had been formed in the Plaza de Armas in front of the palace, presented arms, the band played the national air, and the American flag was lowered by a special detail designated for this purpose and received by an officer of my staff. The Cuban flag was then hoisted and saluted with a national salute of 21 guns both by the fortress of Cabana and by the U. S. S. Brooklyn. The Cuban national air was played and our troops saluted the flag. This ceremony completed the troops immediately embarked, and were not allowed, either officers or men, to set foot again on shore. I left the palace at 25 minutes past 12 o'clock, accompanied by the officers of my personal and department staff. We were accompanied to the capitania del puerto by President Palma with his cabinet, the Cuban Congress and all others who had been present at the ceremonies. President Palma bade us farewell at the wharf, after again expressing his most sincere and lasting good-will and appreciation. Accompanied by my personal staff I immediately embarked upon the U. S. S Brooklyn. The officers of the department staff embarked upon the S. S. Morro Castle, which sailed at a quarter past 3. The U. S. S. Brooklyn sailed at about 3.45. There was immense interest and enthusiasm displayed in the transfer, and it would have been impossible for any people to have shown more friendship and cordiality to the representatives of another nation than was shown by the people of Havana of all classes to the representatives of the late military government of the United States in Cuba. It is safe to say that at least 100,000, probably 150,000, people were assembled along the water front within the harbor limits at the punta and along the sea front to see the troops off. Both the S. S. Morro Castle and the U. S. S. Brooklyn were escorted to sea by a large number of tugs and launches packed with people. I proceeded on the U. S. S. Brooklyn directly to the mouth of the St. Johns River, below Jacksonville, and there transferred to the U. S. A. T. Kanawha with the officers of my personal staff, Captain H. L. Scott. adjutant-general, and Lieutenants M. E. Hanna, Frank R. McCoy and Edward Carpenter, aids-de-camp. From Jacksonville I proceeded directly to Washington, stopping at Charleston to coal; a few hours at Norfolk for supplies, and at Fortress Monroe to visit the works, arriving at Washington Wednesday morning, May 28.. Very respectfully, LEONARD WOOD, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army. The Government was transferred as a "going concern; all the public offices were filled with competent well-trained employees; the Island was free from debt, other than such obligations as were of a current character, and had a surplus of over a million and a half dollars available for allotment; was possessed of a thoroughly trained and efficient personnel in all departments and completely equipped buildings for the transaction of public business; the administration of justice was free; habeas corpus had been put in force; old prison abuses had been stopped; police courts had been established; a new marriage law on lines proposed by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Havana, giving equal rights to all denominations, was in operation; a general electoral law embodying the most enlightened principles of modern electoral laws had been put in force, and the people were governed in all municipalities throughout the Island by officials of their own choice elected under this law; trials in Cuban courts were as prompt as in any State in the Union, and life and property were absolutely safe; sanitary conditions were better than those existing in most parts of the United States; yellow fever had been eradicated from the Island; a modern system of public education, including a reorganized university, high schools, and nearly 3700 public schools, and laws for its government, was in successful operation; well organized departments of charities and public works operating under laws framed by the Military Government had been established; a new railroad law had been promulgated; the customs service had been thoroughly equipped; the great question of church property had been settled; a basis of settlement between mortgage creditors and debtors had been agreed upon and in successful operation for a year; municipalities had been reduced from 138 to 82 in number; public order was excellent; the Island possessed a highly organized and efficient Rural Guard; an enormous amount of public works had been undertaken and completed; ports and harbors had been much improved; old light-houses had been thoroughly renovated and new ones built; Cubans and Spaniards were living in harmony; in short the government as transferred was in excellent running order; the people were making rapid progress; beggars were practically unknown; the courts had the confidence and respect of the people. The great expense of organization and equipment had been borne by the Military Government and at the time of the transfer, government buildings and equipment of every description were in condition to render service for years at a small outlay compared to |