PRESIDENT TOMAS ESTRADA PALMA (CUBA) - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 06/28/1906 - HFSID 271077

TOMAS ESTRADA PALMA
The Cuban mandatary writes a letter to the President of the Cuban House of Representatives to inform him that he had selected General Juan Rius Rivera as Secretary of Government and Dr. Juan Francisco O' Farrill as Secretary of State and Justice
Typed Letter Signed: "T. Estrada Palma" in iron gall ink. 10½x8. Fully Translated in English: "Habana, June 28, 1906. Sir. President of the House of Representatives. Sir: I have the honor to communicate to that Co-Legislator Body, through you, that using the faculties conferred to me and due to the Special Mission of Extraordinary Envoy and Plenipotentiary Minister given to the Secretary of Government, General Juan Rius Rivera, near of the Governments of the Center and South American Republics, I have named Dr. Juan Francisco O'Farrill, as Secretary of State and Justice, in order for him to interim rule the Secretary of Government while the proprietor is gone. All yours, with the greatest consideration, T. Estrada Palma." Tomás Estrada Palma (1835-1908) led Cuban forces in the first war for Cuban Independence (The Ten Years War), and was named President of the Republic in Arms in 1876. Captured by Spanish troops in 1877, Estrada Palma was released after the signing of a peace agreement (1878) which fell short of granting Cuba independence. He moved to New York, and, when Cuban resistance to Spanish rule resumed, worked in the U.S. to raise money, smuggle arms, and inflame U.S. opinion against Spain. With Cuba's formal independence, following the Spanish-American War (1898), Estrada Palma was elected President with broad support (1901). He secured the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the island, but at a high price: enactment of a low tariff and acceptance of a treaty recognizing the Platt Amendment. The notorious Platt Amendment, authored by U.S. Senator Orville Platt of Connecticut, stated: "...the Government of Cuba consents that the United States may exercise the right to intervene for the preservation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of government adequate for the protection of life, property and individual liberty." After Estrada Palma used controversial methods to assure his re-election in 1906, broad resistance to his rule developed. He invoked the Platt Amendment in a vain attempt to keep himself in power. President Teddy Roosevelt did send U.S. Marines, but only to restore order after Estrada Palma's resignation (September 28). This was the first of four U.S. military interventions under the Platt Amendment, which was repealed by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1934. (The U.S. still retains its base at Guantanamo, acquired under another provision of the Platt Amendment.) Evenly toned, with scattered foxing and soiling. Normal mailing folds. Staple holes at left edge. Official stamps of the Cuban Secretary of the Presidency and the House of Representatives. Otherwise, fine condition.