This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2020
After Cuba's independence in 1902, election fraud and corruption followed, as did factional conflict. In September 1906, President Tomas Estrada Palma asked for U.S. intervention. As Secretary of War at the time, William Howard Taft traveled to Cuba with a small American commission, and on September 29, under the terms of the Cuban-American Treaty of Relations of 1903, declared himself Provisional Governor of Cuba, a post he held for two weeks. In his time there, Taft worked to persuade Cubans that the U.S. intended stability, not occupation. Offered here is a letter dated September 29, 1906 in Havana, written by Taft to "Senor Alfredo Zayas and others of the Revolutionary Committee", letting Zayas know that he had sent a commission to meet with the Cuban rebels' commission "for the purpose of arranging the details of the surrender". Clearly, Taft wasted no time in taking action once he arrived in Cuba. The letter has been signed at the conclusion in steel tip by Taft as Provisional Governor of Cuba. A great piece showing some amazing content on the early Cuban government. In fine condition, with two vertical folds, some paper loss and light evidence of staining. Accompanied by a full Letter of Authenticity from Beckett Authentication Services (BAS).