Lot #5029

William McKinley Document Signed as President, Proclaiming the End of the Spanish–American War

Description

Significant document signaling the end of the Spanish–American War, with President McKinley officially proclaiming “the Treaty of Peace with Spain”

Historic DS as president, one page, 8 x 10, Executive Mansion letterhead, April 11, 1899. President McKinley directs the Secretary of State to cause the Seal of the United States to be affixed to “my proclamation of the Treaty of Peace with Spain of December 10, 1898.” Signed nicely at the conclusion by William McKinley. In very good to fine condition, with scattered small stains, several paperclip impressions to the top edge, and a small chip to the left side. Accompanied by an original copy of an English-Spanish language 10-page booklet print of the “Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain.”

On April 11, 1898, exactly a year before signing the offered document, President William McKinley asked Congress for authorization to end the fighting in Cuba between the rebels and Spanish forces, and to establish a ‘stable government’ that would ‘maintain order’ and ensure the ‘peace and tranquility and the security’ of Cuban and U.S. citizens on the island. On April 20th, Congress passed a joint resolution that acknowledged Cuban independence, demanded that the Spanish government give up control of the island, foreswore any intention on the part of the United States to annex Cuba, and authorized McKinley to use whatever military measures he deemed necessary to guarantee Cuba's independence.

The Spanish government rejected the U.S. ultimatum and immediately severed diplomatic relations with America. McKinley responded by implementing a naval blockade of Cuba on April 22nd and issued a call for 125,000 military volunteers the following day. That same day, Spain declared war on the United States, and Congress voted to go to war against Spain on April 25th.

After isolating and defeating the Spanish army garrisons in Cuba, the U.S. Navy destroyed the Spanish Caribbean squadron on July 3rd as it attempted to escape the U.S. naval blockade of Santiago. On July 26th, at the behest of the Spanish government, the French ambassador in Washington, Jules Cambon, approached the McKinley Administration to discuss peace terms, and a cease-fire was signed on August 12th. The war ended four months later when the U.S. and Spanish governments signed the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898, which was officially proclaimed on April 11, 1899.

Auction Info

• Auction Title: Remarkable Rarities
• Dates: September 04, 2024 - September 28, 2024

This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for $75.00

*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.