Sold – Pres. McKinley Makes Official His Instructions For Transferring Cuba to U. S. Control

…instruction to the Commissioners of the United States to superintend the evacuation of Cuba

When the Spanish-American War began in April 1898, the most immediate U. S. goal was the end of Spanish sovereignty in Cuba. By July 17, American forces had effectively defeated the Spanish army and navy on the island. Then, in a formal armistice signed in Washington on August 12, Spain agreed to relinquish its claims to Cuba and to evacuate the island. However, as it left, Spain was to turn Cuba over to the United States, not to the Cuban insurgents who had been fighting for independence for some years. Although the U. S. disavowed any desire to annex Cuba, President William McKinley and his advisers feared that instability in Cuba could threaten U. S. interests there and lead to foreign intervention, so they insisted on an indefinite period of American control of the island.

To implement the Spanish evacuation of Cuba and its transfer to the U. S., the armistice required the U. S. and Spain to name commissioners who would meet in Havana within thirty days to arrange all the details of Spanish departure from the island. On August 26, President McKinley named Major General James F. Wade, Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, and Major General Matthew C. Butler as the American evacuation commissioners, and he gave them two letters of instruction – one public and one private – to guide their actions.

Document Signed as President, Washington, August 26, 1898, in which McKinley directs the “Secretary of State to cause the Seal of the United States to be affixed to my two letters of instruction to the Commissioners of the United States to superintend the evacuation of Cuba.” This order was the final step needed to make his letters of instruction official and put them into effect.

In his public instructions to the commissioners, McKinley first highlighted the fact that they were undertaking “a military operation [that] will when carried into effect leave the evacuated places in the military occupation of the United States.” He then outlined the specifics of the commissioners’ duties in negotiating and carrying out the Spanish evacuation. They were to arrange to take possession of all immovable property that had belonged to the government of Spain, including “all public buildings and grounds, forts, fortifications, arsenals, depots, docks, wharves, piers, and other fixed property…, and arrange for the care and safe-keeping of the same under the authority and control of the United States.” The commissioners were to work in conjunction with the U. S. commanding general in Cuba to ensure the orderly transfer of cities, and  towns, and were also “to see that all state papers, public records, and other papers and documents” were “taken into…custody and preserved for…future use.” They were to safeguard all records “necessary or convenient for securing to individuals the titles to property.” Finally, the commissioners were to allow the peaceful departure of any individuals who wished to leave, along with their personal possessions.

In his “Supplemental Instructions,” which were marked “Confidential,” McKinley directed the commissioners to “pay such attention as opportunity may afford” to matters that would affect American “control and government” of Cuba. He told them to arrange, so far as possible, for the “speedy reestablishment of trade, commerce, business, and other peaceful pursuits of the inhabitants.” He also urged the commissioners to learn about police arrangements in each city and town so they could advise the U. S. commanding general on how to continue “good order and the administration of the local laws and ordinances after the departure of the Spanish forces.” Finally, McKinley instructed, “Where it can be done prudently, confer with the leading citizens of Cuba…in an unofficial manner and endeavor to ascertain their sentiments toward the United States, and their views as to such measures as they may deem necessary or important for the future welfare and good government of the island.”

The American and Spanish evacuation commissioners had their first meeting in Havana on September 12. By the end of November, the Spanish Governor General of Cuba had formally resigned, and Spanish forces left the island for good on January 1, 1899. As McKinley’s instructions make clear, Americans, not Cubans, took control as the Spanish departed. U. S. occupation of the island lasted until May 1902, and then, independence came only with Cuba’s acceptance of terms which restricted its freedom of action in foreign affairs and gave the U. S. the right to intervene in the island.