Mr. Powell to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Port au Prince, June 9,
1903.
No. 552, Santo Domingo series.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose to the
Department the correspondence that has passed between this legation and
the Dominican foreign office on the subject of recognition.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
Mr. Despradele
to Mr. Powell.
Dominican Republic,
Department of Foreign
Relations,
Santo
Domingo, April 22,
1903.
Mr. Chargé d’affaires: By virtue of the
political events that have occurred from the 23d of March last, and
as a consequence of the triumph obtained by the revolutionary
movement that has spread over nearly the whole of the Republic,
uniting the public opinion in its favor, the provisional government,
founded since the 1st of May, 1902, has ceased to direct the public
administration of the Dominican State; and as this can not remain
stationary permanently without serious prejudice to the general
interest, it has been decided to proceed to the organization of a
new provisional
[Page 394]
government, which by its guarantee and care may regulate, give legal
form to the revolutionary movement which has been initiated, and
direct and complete the national will.
The provisional government formed by the triumphant revolution holds
the unalterable intention, and has thus agreed to say to you through
the channel of the undersigned, to maintain above all with the most
perfect cordiality the friendly relations and the mutual interests
that exist happily between the Dominican Republic and the country
that you so worthily represent in Santo Domingo.
It is very pleasing to the undersigned, called to the office of
minister of foreign relations, to bring to your knowledge the above,
also to be pleased to have the hope that, inspired with the high
intentions of the provisional government, you will not refuse your
valuable cooperation to make most easy and agreeable the task that
it has imposed on itself.
In that which regards the department of foreign relations, the
undersigned can assure you that he will maintain the policy of the
provisional government, observing with preeminent attention and
courtesy the official relations that he holds to be his duty to
initiate from the present with the honorable foreign representatives
accredited in this capital, and particularly with you, to whom I
offer the highest and most distinguished consideration and
respect.
Your obedient servant,
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Powell to
Mr. Despradele.
Legation of the United States,
Port au Prince, May
20, 1903.
Sir: In response to your excellency’s
courteous note, it gives me pleasure to state to you that my
Government recognizes a de facto government when it has the support
and popular approval of its citizens. Such seeming to be the case,
as your excellency informs me, and that peace prevails throughout
the Republic, a fact which I am pleased to know, and which I trust,
through the wide experience of His Excellency, obtained in
fulfilling the functions of this office in the past, that this peace
will be maintained for many years to come, and that a bright and
happy future awaits the Republic.
In making known to your excellency the sentiments of my Government
for the future prosperity of the Dominican Republic and its people,
my Government expresses its belief to your excellency that the
present Dominican Government will not only recognize, but will also
carry into execution within the briefest time possible, those acts
and agreements recently consummated by the late government of which
General Vasquez was the provisional president, and which greatly
affects the interests of certain American citizens.
Permit me, sir, to personally express to your excellency the hope
that the happy relations that have have always existed between the
department of foreign relations of your excellency’s Government and
this legation will continue in the future as they have in the
past.
Accept, etc.,
