WILLIAM McKINLEY.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, D.C., September 11, 1899.

Hon. JOHN HAY,
  Secretary of State

You will notify the President of Hawaii that the Government of Hawaii has no power to make any sale or dispose of the public lands in the Islands.  That all proceedings taken or pending for such sale or disposition should be discontinued and that if any sales or agreements for sale have been made since the adoption of the Resolution of Annexation the purchasers should be notified that the same are null and void and any consideration paid to the legal authorities on account thereof should be refunded.

WILLIAM McKINLEY.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, D.C., September 18, 1899.

In the exercise of the power conferred upon me by the Joint Resolution of Congress, approved by the President on July 7th, 1898, entitled “Joint Resolution to provide for annexing the Hawaiian Islands to the United States,” the President of the United States hereby directs that the issue of Registers to vessels by the Authorities of Hawaii entitling such vessels to all the rights and privileges of Hawaiian vessels in the ports of Nations or upon the High Seas, shall hereafter cease.

[SEAL.]

In witness whereof I have caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed.

WILLIAM McKINLEY.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, D.C., September 29, 1899.

It is hereby ordered that the several Executive Departments, the Government Printing Office and the Navy Yard and Station at Washington be closed on Tuesday, October 3rd, to enable the employees to participate in the ceremonies attending the Reception of Admiral Dewey, United States Navy, and the presentation of the Sword of Honor to him, as authorized by a Joint Resolution of Congress, approved June 3rd, 1899.

WILLIAM McKINLEY.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, D.C., November 4, 1899.

In furtherance of interchange between those absent in the service of their country and their families at home, it is hereby ordered that packages and parcels of mailable matter and containing only articles desired as gifts and souvenirs, and so marked, and with no commercial purpose, and not for sale, from Officers, Soldiers and Sailors serving in the Army and Navy and other persons employed in the Civil Service of the United States, in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippine Islands and Cuba addressed to members of their families in the United States, or packages of the same personal character addressed from the United States to Officers, Soldiers, Sailors and others in the Public Service in said Islands may be sent through the mails, subject only to the domestic postal regulations of the United States.

The details of the execution of this order with all necessary safeguards will devolve on the Secretary of War and Postmaster-General.