Mr. Powell to Mr.
Hay.
American Legation,
Santo Domingo
City, D. R., December 3,
1903.
No. 680. Santo Domingo Series.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose to the
Department the correspondence that it has passed between the provisional
government and this legation, on the subject of recognizing the present
government.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
Mr. Alfau to
Mr. Powell.
Dominican Republic, Department of Foreign
Relations.
Santo
Domingo, December 2,
1903.
Hon. W. F. Powell: I have the honor to
communicate to your excellency that the revolution initiated in
Puerto Plata on October 24 last, having triumphed, and having the
support of the whole Republic the Government under the presidency of
Gen. Charles F. Morales has been constituted in the following form:
Gen. Charles Heynoso, minister of interior and police; Citizen
Miguel Emilio Alfau, minister of foreign relations; Citizen Enrique
Jimenes, minister of justice and public instruction; Citizen Enrique
Pou, minister of finance and commerce; Gen. Eliseo Cabrera, minister
of war and marine; Citizen Eladio Victoria, minister of improvement
and public works; Gen. Charles Ginebra, minister of posts and
telegraphs.
The desire to increase each day the chain of cordial relations that
unite the Dominican Republic with the State so highly represented by
your excellency, moves me to request in the name of my Government
the recognition of this Government as a base upon which ought to
rest the relations that have existed and ought to exist always
between the Dominican people and the nation that has charged to your
excellency its representation in this Republic.
The men who are in charge of the public affairs, being imbued with
the salutary purpose of organizing the prosperity of the country
upon a solid foundation and bring about more cordial relations with
friendly nations, do not doubt that your excellency will effectually
contribute toward strengthening the bonds of mutual friendship
between my Government and that of the nation so worthily represented
by your excellency, and request you specially to inform your
Government of the existence of the Government which has recently
taken charge of national affairs, with the unanimous support of the
country, as a result of the revolutionary movement of October 24
last.
Please accept, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Powell to
Mr. Alfau.
American Legation,
Santo
Domingo City, D. R., December 3, 1903.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your excellency’s favor of December 2, by which you
inform me that Gen. Carlos Morales is the provisional
[Page 262]
president of this Republic
and that he had selected as members of his cabinet certain gentlemen
to assist him in conducting the affairs of the present Government,
the names of whom I find in your dispatch.
Your excellency also informs me that it is the desire of the new
Government to increase the cordial relations of this Republic with
that of the United States of North America, of which I have the
honor to be its representative.
Further, your excellency informs me that it is the aim and purpose of
General Morales, the President, and the members of his cabinet, to
organize upon a solid foundation the future prosperity of the
country.
Your excellency finally requests that I will bring these facts to the
knowledge of my Government, and with a view to the recognition of
the present Government.
In reply to your excellency’s favor I am very glad to be informed
that General Morales is the Provisional President of the Republic
and also to receive the names of the members of his cabinet; and
lastly, to learn that it is the wish of General Morales to cement
the bonds of amity that exist at the present time between the
Republic of Santo Domingo and my Government.
In response to your request for recognition, I will be glad to do so
when I am informed by your excellency upon the following
matters:
That the present Government pledge itself to recognize all the
engagements entered into between this legation and the Dominican
Republic, and all former engagements made with preceding
administrations.
If your excellnecy’s government agrees to the above, I will with
pleasure communicate the same to my Government by cable, and upon
receipt of reply will communicate the same to your excellency.
Please accept, etc.,
Please accept, etc.,