Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 5, 1898

Mr. Dawson to Mr Sherman.

Legation of the United States,
Petropolis, February 17, 1898.

No. 109.]

Sir: I have the honor to confirm my telegram of this date, as follows:

Sherman, Washington:

President Moraes telegraphs expression sympathy Maine disaster.

Dawson.

And to state in reference thereto that to-day I received a telegram from the minister for foreign affairs desiring me to convey to the Government of the United States the expression of the sorrow felt by the President of Brazil on account of the disaster to the cruiser Maine.

And further that I have written a note to the minister for foreign affairs saying that I was sure my Government would be grateful for this timely expression of sympathy and good-will. I inclose a copy and translation of Mr. Cerqueira’s telegram and of my note replying thereto.

I also have the honor to inform you that the Spanish minister to Brazil called upon me this afternoon for the purpose of expressing his regret and grief over the disaster. I thanked him for his thought-fulness.

I have, etc.,

Thomas C. Dawson.

[Inclosure 1 in No. 109.]

Mr. Cerqueira to Mr. Dawson.

[Translation.]

Rio de Janeiro, February 17, 1898.

To the American Chargé d’affaires:

I beg you to accept and to transmit to your Government the expression of the sorrow that the news of the disaster to the cruiser Maine has caused to the President of this Republic.

Dionisio Cerqueira,
Minister for Foreign Affairs.

[Inclosure 2 in No. 109.]

Mr. Dawson to Mr. Cerqueira.

Legation of the United States of America,
Petropolis, February 17, 1898.

I have this moment received the telegram of General Dionisio E. de Castro Cerqueira, minister for foreign affairs, expressing the sorrow that His Excellency the President of the Republic feels over the disaster to the cruiser Maine.

I have telegraphed to my Government the fact that His Excellency the President and your excellency have had this kindness.

I feel sure that it will afford the Government and people of the United States of America great comfort and sincere gratification to know that His Excellency is not unmindful of them on such an occasion, and I am confident I express their sentiments when I desire to thank your honored President for this timely evidence of his good will.

I am, etc.,

Thomas C. Dawson.