government when it shall have been fully established with the general consent of the people. It is the practice of this Government to enter into such relations upon ascertainment of the fact. The communication made to Consul Maxwell by Señor Domingo Ferreras indicates the provisional character and composition of the Dominican Govern ment. Upon your being satisfied that the new government of Santo Domingo is in possession of the executive forces of the nation and administering the public affairs with due regard for the obligations of international law and treaties, you will enter into full relations with it. This is done by your addressing a note to the Dominican minister of foreign relations. The Department having been informed by the chargé d'affaires of the Dominican Government on the 16th instant that his resignation had been accepted and the legation would be closed, there is no representative of that government in this country with whom this Government now maintains relations. A communication has been addressed to me by Señor Domingo Ferreras, the minister of foreign relations of the provisional government, dated September 29, and inclosing a commission signed by Horacio Vasquez as president of the provisional government of the Dominican Republic, appointing Señor Emilio C. Joubert, consul-general and chargé d'affaires in place of Señor Wos y Gil. Action upon this is necessarily deferred until the initial step of recognition is decided in accordance with the foregoing instructions, and Señor Joubert will be so advised if he should arrive in Washington and seek an audience before the receipt of your report. I am, etc., JOHN HAY. [Inclosure in No. 91.] Mr. Maxwell to Mr. Hill. No. 53.] CONSULATE-GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have to inform you that by an official communication dated September 6, 1899, and signed Domingo Ferreras, this office is advised of the following provisional government of this republic: President: Horacio Vasquez. Secretary of state, of the interior, and police: José Brache. Secretary of foreign relations: Licenciado Domingo Ferreras. Secretary of justice and public instruction: Licenciado José Ma. Nouel. Secretary of public works, etc.: Arturo Zeno. Secretary of the treasury and commerce: Samuel Moya. Secretary of war and navy: Ramon Caceras. Secretary of post-office and telegraph: José Franc Guzman. The communication closes with the following: "It is hoped that the United States will recognize this government as legally constituted for the effects (purposes) of the good relations that happily exists between this Republic and the United States Government, which you so honorably and acceptably represent. I approve this opportunity to salute you with sentiments of distinguished consideration." I have further to inform you that the secretary of war and navy, Ramon Caceres, is the same individual who killed the late President Heureaux. Mr. Caceres resigned some days ago and Mr. Aristides Partino has been appointed as his successor. I am, etc., C. L. MAXWELL, Consul-General. No. 159.] Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, Haiti, November 11, 1899. SIR: I have the honor to state that the affairs of the Santo Domingo Republic are gradually assuming a definite shape. The Congress of the Republic, which had been summoned by the provisional government to meet in extraordinary session, had its first meeting on November 7. Mr. Jimenez has been elected, and will be installed on November 15, as president of the Republic. It is too early as yet to state whether this will bring tranquillity to the Republic. The national paper currency that was issued by the late administration without any guaranty of its future redemption is gradually being retired, American gold, silver, and nickel taking its place; in fact our paper currency being received on a par with our metallic currency. I have taken no steps in the direction of the recognition of the new government until I have received more definite information from the capital, or from the Department. I have, etc.; No. 163.] Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay. W. F. POWELL. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, Haiti, November 16, 1899. SIR: I have the honor to state to the Department that Mr. Jimenez took the oath of office in the presence of the members of the Chambers on November 14, 1899, and assumed the duties of President of the Republic of Santo Domingo. I have, etc., Mr. Hay to Mr. Powell. W. F. POWELL. No. 93.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 22, 1899. SIR: I inclose a copy of the award of the arbitrator, Mr. Noble, in the Ozama River Bridge case against the Government of the Dominican Republic.' On October 25 last the Department sent the following telegraphic instruction to the United States consul at Santo Domingo City: Request prompt payment of unpaid amount, principal and interest, on award in Ozama River Bridge case, due April 26 last, $45,159.20, and include also 6 per cent interest accrued since that date. You will at your earliest convenience, compatible with the work of the legation, proceed to Santo Domingo City and obtain full payment and final settlement of this claim. I am, etc., 1 Not printed. JOHN HAY. No. 165.] Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, Haiti, December 5, 1899. SIR: In reply to Department's dispatch No. 93, of November 22, 1899, received in this mail, I have the honor to state I am awaiting further instructions in reference to the recognition of the present Government which has recently been established. I have not communicated with them as yet. I have several important dispatches to forward to them as soon as I hear from the Department. I have written to our consul-general, Mr. Maxwell, at Santo Domingo, to furnish me with a detailed statement of the situation there. I expect an answer this week. I hope it will arrive in time, that I may furnish the Department with the information received. I can not well leave by this steamer, whose sailing date is the 9th of the present month, even if instructions had been received, except the same were positive to depart immediately, on account of my quarterly returns, which are due the latter part of this month. Again the anniversary of independence (January 1) will be held within the next few weeks, at which time it is expected that each accredited representative will be present at the fête in commemoration of that event. I have, et No. 167.] Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay. W. F. POWELL, LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, Haiti, December 9, 1899. SIR: I have the honor to inclose a copy of the letter received this morning from the United States consul-general, Mr. Maxwell, on affairs in Santo Domingo. I have, etc., W. F. POWELL. [Inclosure 1 in No. 167.] Mr. Maxwell to Mr. Powell. CONSULATE-GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 458, of November 14, 1899, requesting full details in reference to the existing state of affairs in this Republic, etc. In reply I have to say that on the 15th instant Mr. Juan Isidro Jimenez and Horacio Vasquez were publicly inaugurated President and Vice-President, respectively. The following is the new ministry: Interior and police: Gen. Louis Ma Hernandez Brea. Foreign relations: Dr. Francisco Henriquez y Carvajal. Justice and public instruction: Licenciado Alvaro Logroño. Fomento and public works: Francisco L. Vasquez. War and marine: Gen. José Brache. Post-office and telegraph: Eugenio Deschamps. I do not know that I can add anything further of interest than is contained in my latest report to the Department, a copy of which I herewith inclose for your information. I am, etc., C. L. MAXWELL, Consul-General. No. 171.] Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, Haiti, December 15, 1899. SIR: In reply to the cablegram received to-day I do not understand what the Department requests. I forwarded in dispatch No. 166, of December 5, 1899, all the information that was in my possession concerning the Ozama Bridge award. I am awaiting instructions from the Department in reference to it, and what steps I shall take in the recognition of the present Government. Up to the present time I have received no information from that Government of its existence, nor has either of my colleagues here. I do not care to assume this responsibility without full instructions from the Department. Depa I remain, etc., W. F. POWELL. Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay. No. 173.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, Haiti, December 28, 1899. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of dispatch No. 95, of December 20, 1899, in reference to the presentation to the Dominican Government of a request for the payment due on Mr. Thurston's claim, July 1, 1899, and that which falls due January 1, 1900, with accrued interest on all the payments. In reply the Department will pardon me in failure to comprehend its instructions in dispatch No. 91, of October 19, 1899; it was in conformity with those instructions that I have acted. In the dispatch referred to I was instructed that upon your being satisfied that the new government of Santo Domingo is in possession of the executive forces of the nation and administering the public affairs with due regard for the obligations of international law and treaties you will enter into full relations with it. This is done by your addressing a note to the Dominican minister of foreign relations. I received no satisfactory information of the formation of the nev government at Santo Domingo except what I read from our home. papers and what I received from my colleagues here until Mr. Maxwell's letter of December 9, 1899, reached me, stating the names of the cabinet of the new Executive. As the Department can readily understand, I could not act on the former information of the news received through the columns of our home journal without subjecting myself to censure from the Department. On the receipt of Mr. Maxwell's, our consul-general's, letter I could not reply by that mail, on account of the early departure of the steamer, which left the same day on its return trip. I have not up to this date, nor has any of my colleagues, received any official information from the Dominican secretary of foreign relations of the existence of the present Government. Again I was, and am still, in a quandary as to the form of note I should address to the secretary of foreign relations in reference to the recognition of the pending Government. This was in part the instruction I trusted the Department would forward to me. The Department is also unaware of the very poor mail facilities that exist between the two republics. There is but one steamer a month, reaching here on the 8th or 9th and leaving on its return trip the same day or early the next. The time of going from one capital to the other is six days, leaving on the 9th and reaching Santo Domingo City on the 15th, or the time it requires to go from here to New York, so unless we take advantage to reply by the same steamer we must wait for the next, a month hence. In regard to Mr. Thurston's claim there is but one course for me to pursue, that is to go to Santo Domingo and remain there until this matter is finally closed and money paid; simply to write to them from here is a waste of valuable time, by them either not replying to my communications or else taking the time to discuss when they would the same. By being there I would better secure the amount due Mr. Thurston than by remaining here and requesting the same through pay the mails. I have requested the Department in previous communications to instruct me in reference to other claims pending against the Dominican Government as to the course I should pursue in regard to them, principally that of Messrs. Drake & Stratton, and also as to the future condition of the Santo Domingo Improvement Company. From the columns of the New York papers I see that instructions were to be sent to me concerning this and other matters, but up to date nothing has been received. I have, etc., No. 97.] Mr. Hay to Mr. Powell. W. F. POWELL. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 171, Santo Domingo series, dated December 15, 1899, in reference to the recognition of the present Government of Santo Domingo. You state that up to the present time you have received no information from that Government of its existence, and that you do not care to assume the responsibility of recognizing it without full instructions from the Department. It is the policy of the Government of the United States to acknowledge any Government to be rightful which is established and accepted as such by the nation over which it exercises all the functions of government. The recognition of the newly established Government may properly be accomplished by the mere resumption or continuation of diplomatic relations. You may adopt this course, if you have not already done so, by the renewal of official relations between the two Governments by proceeding in the usual manner to carry out and obey all instructions of this Government to you which you have not already complied with. You were instructed last October to recognize the Government administered by President Jimenez whenever it was firmly established, and in an instruction to you last December the Department presumed that you had already done so. |