n the United
States and Spain. When the actual landing of Shafter's army was made,
however, the Cubans accepted the fact loyally and gracefully, and gave
the fullest possible measure of helpful cooperation.

The Provisional Government of the Cuban Republic, as soon as hostilities
were ended and negotiations for peace had begun, decided to summon
another National Assembly to determine what should be done during the
interval which should elapse before the United States placed the
destinies of Cuba in the hands of Cubans. This decision was made at a
meeting at Santa Cruz on September 1, at which were present the
President, Bartolome Maso; the Vice-President, Mendez Capote; and the
three Secretaries, Aleman, Fonts-Sterling and Moreno de la Torre. It was
felt, and not without reason, that the Insular government and its forces
had not received the recognition which was their due. Calixto Garcia and
Francisco Estrada had given valuable participation in the siege and
capture of Santiago, yet they were not permitted by General Shafter to
participate in the ceremony of the surrender of the Spanish forces, or
even to be present on that exultant occasion. When the Americans thus
took possession of Santiago and Oriente, the Cuban government, military
and civil, was ignored, and General Leonard Wood was made Military
Governor just as though there was no Cuban government in existence.

[Illustration: OLD AND NEW IN HAVANA

The architecture of Havana ranges from the sixteenth century to the
twentieth, and specimens of all five centuries may in some places be
found grouped within a single scene; with electric lights and telephones
in buildings which were standing when Francis Drake threatened the city
with conquest.]

During the months of the American blockade of the island, moreover, the
Cubans had suffered perhaps even more than the Spanish from lack of
supplies. It was felt that while it was well thus to deprive the Spanish
army of supplies, the Cuban people ought not to have been left to
suffer. After the armistice affairs remained in a distressing condition.
The Cuban army was without food and without pay with which to purchase
food; and the Provisional Government was powerless to help it or to help
the starving civilian population. It had no funds, and of course could
not now raise any either by taxation or by loans. Late in November some
relief was afforded by the sending of food from the United States, but
on the whole the c