PRESIDENT AURELIO MARIO GABRIEL FRANCISCO GARCIA MENOCAL Y DEOP (CUBA) - MANUSCRIPT DOCUMENT SIGNED 11/24/1895 - HFSID 218062

AURELIO MARIO GABRIEL FRANCISCO GARCIA MENOCAL Y DEOP
The Cuban President writes an interesting letter to the Chief of the 4th Liberation Army Force to inform him about the decision of the Government Council about the entrance of merchandise to the towns
Manuscript Document Signed: "M. G. Menocal" in iron gall ink. 8½x6½. Fully Translated in English: "Republic of Cuba. Secretary of war. Camaguey. Letter to the Chief of the 4th Liberation Army Force. The Government Council has agreed on the 22nd of the present month to prohibit the entrance in the towns without previous permission given by the Civil Authorities: Internal Secretary, Civil Governor, Governor and Prefects in their respective districts, these three last ones and the military chiefs since today on will be very strong in their zones or departments. What I say to you is for your own knowledge and exact realization. Cuba, November 24, 1895. The secretary, M.G. Menocal." Aurelio Mario Gabriel Francisco Garcia Menocal y Deop (1866-1941) was a Cuban who at the age of thirteen was sent to boarding schools in the United States, first at the Chappaqua Mountain Institute in New York and later at the Maryland Agricultural College. He went to Cornell University in 1884 and four years later he graduated from the School of Engineering. While at Cornell University, Aurelio Mario was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity (Delta Chi Chapter). At a young age he became involved in Cuba's fight for the independence from Spain and when Cuba finally obtained its freedom following the Spanish-American War, Garcia Menocal turned into a leading conservative politician. In 1912 Mario Garcia was elected President of Cuba and became known for the strong support he gave to business and corporations. He was reelected for years later, though the election was challenged by the liberals, and in perhaps his most notable action, Garcia Menocal authorized the Cuba's declaration of war against the German Empire on April 7, 1917, entering World War I one day after the United States. This action was considered by many as an attempt to get the United States to give more support to his government, and in December war was also declared against Austria-Hungary. While in office, Garcia Menocal hosted the Delta Kappa Epsilon National Convention, the first international fraternity conference outside the US, which took place in Cuba, and private trains were hired from New England to Florida where the invited people could travel in comfort and style, and upon arrival in Cuba each man was gifted a gold-trimmed box of cigars. The hospitality he gave is still remembered in the fraternity to this day. After his presidency ended in 1921, Garcia Menocal remained involved in politics, running for President again in 1924. He attempted a revolution in 1931, and had to go into exile in the United Sates when it failed, but returned to Cuba less than five years later and ran for President a final time in 1936 and died there in 1941. Multiple mailing folds. Lightly worn and soiled. Left blank margin lightly frayed. Pinhead-size holes on front. Otherwise, fine condition.