The new Republic of Cuba was formally inaugurated on Tuesday
at Havana. The ceremony was simple but impres- sive. General Wood, the United States Governor of Cuba, after an exchange of congratulations with Sefior Palma, the new President, lowered the American colours, which were 'saluted, and then with his own hand hoisted the Cuban flag as the act of the United States, General Gomez assisting. Immediately afterwards General Wood, the Staff, and the American troops left the island. The Washington correspon- dent of the Times notes that the proclamation of transfer is subject to the condition that Cuba accepts, and will con- tinuously discharge, the obligations of American suzerainty imposed on her by Congress, and goes so far as to say that nearly all the representatives of wealth and intelligence in the island desire and openly advocate annexation to the United States. It is further asserted that by the adoption of an ungenerous financial policy Congress is reducing the gift of independence to a dead letter. Nothing, however, can detract from the splendid services rendered to the island by General Wood—the "Cromer of Cuba," as the Times correspondent happily calla him—whose great administrative abilities will, we doubt not, be soon utilised by Mr. Roosevelt in some other equally important sphere.
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