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General Deschamps, the former governor of Puerto Plata, on the day the steamer departed had arrived in Santo Domingo, and General Rodrigues was expected the following week. During the time the city was shelled several shells struck our consulate, but no damage occurred. Several were killed in the streets from flying or falling bullets, and one or two sailors from the vessels of war in the harbor were injured. It is estimated the revolutionists lost in killed and wounded about 400; Vasquez's loss was very much greater. Great praise is given by both sides for the active aid rendered by the medical corps from the Atlanta. The damage sustained will be another heavy expense added to those that this country will have to pay.

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The elections are supposed to take place in about two months, if there is not another revolution. The leading candidates are Generals Gill, Deschamps, Rodrigues, Richards, and Mr. Jimenez. There are others named, the principal being ex-President Ignacio Gonzales, the present Dominican minister to this country. While the revolution is over, the political situation is very grave. It is stated Mr. Jimenez will make every effort to secure the Presidency, * * * The other candidates fear that if he should succeed the friends of Gill and Vasquez will unite to prevent it. This foreshadows another revolution.

The financial condition of the Government is worse than bad, if such can be accepted to express the present monetary condition of the Republic. It is impossible for them to secure a loan, as they have nothing to guarantee it.

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At the time the mail closed the San Francisco was in the harbor. I have, etc.,

W. F. POWELL.

Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay.

No. 552, Santo Domingo series.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Port au Prince, June 9, 1903.

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.]

W. F. POWELL.

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

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,

FIDELIO DESPRadele.

[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.,

Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay.

W. F. POWELL.

No. 614, Santo Domingo Series.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

Santo Domingo City, October 22, 1903.

SIR: I have the honor to state to the Department that according to instructions received I delivered to President A. Woss y Gil, the letter of the President, Mr. Roosevelt.

Our

I was very cordially received by the President. A guard of honor and the palace band was placed at the entrance to receive me. interview lasted about twenty minutes.

I have the honor to inclose the remarks made on the occasion by the President and myself.

I have, etc.,

W. F. POWELL.

[Inclosure 3.]

Remarks to President.

YOUR EXCELLENCY: I have a most pleasant duty to perform, in being the bearer of a communication from Mr. Roosevelt, the President of the United States of America, to Your Excellency, extending to you his congratulations on your being called to preside as the Chief Magistrate of this Republic.

I have the honor to state to Your Excellency that it is the great desire of Mr. Roosevelt, the President, that the closest friendship shall exist between the two sister Kepublics, each being allied to the other by strong commercial ties. I can also say to Your Excellency that it is the desire of the President, Mr. Roosevelt, that this country shall ever preserve its autonomy and its independence, and that during the time that Your Excellency shall exercise the functions of this office you will be able to bring to this Republic the prosperity that it once attained. In order to do this there must be a united people, whose only aim should be the future prosperity of the Republic. This, Mr. President, with a just regard to the fulfillment of all obligations entered into, will bring to your Republic a future of hope, of prosperty, of peace, and of happiness.

This, Your Excellency, I hope to see during the time you fill this high and important office.

Allow me, sir, to extend my congratulations upon this happy event.

[Inclosure 4.-Translation.] Mr. Galvan to Mr. Powell.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS, Santo Domingo, October 22, 1903.

HONORABLE SIR: I have the special order from the President Woss y Gil to send your excellency the written testimonial of the well-felt satisfaction with which he has received the congratulations of His Excellency the President of the United States of North America, expressed in his autograph letter, which your excellency put in his hands yesterday, the 21st instant, accompanied by the eloquent phrases of your excellency's discourse, manifesting the great desire which is felt by the illustrious President Roosevelt that the closest friendship should exist between the two sister Republics, the one being bound to the other by strong commercial relations. The President of the Dominican Republic, General Woss y Gil, and the ministers who accompany him in the work of the Government, esteem in a high degree and correspond loyally to this noble aspiration of the First Magistrate of the Federal Union of the United States of America, fully confident of the sincerity of these expressions which conjointly your excellency has expressed in the name and by order of the same Mr. President Roosevelt, that this Republic shall conserve always its autonomy and its independence, and that it may reach during the present administration the prosperity to which a united people may aspire.

It is very grateful to me, honorable sir, to be the organ on this occasion of the cordiality of sentiments with which President Woss Y Gil and his Government receive such expressive manifestations of friendship, which will find full correspondence in the way which the Dominican Government proposes itself to encourage, by the rectitude and the best will, in all its proceedings regarding the commercial and political interests existing between both republics.

Accept, etc.,

[Inclosure 5.]

Mr. Powell to Mr. Galvan.

MANUEL DE J. GALVAN.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Santo Domingo City, October 23, 1903.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge your excellency's note of October 22, 1903, conveying to me the kindly expressions from His Excellency General Woss y Gil, President of this Republic, in response to a congratulatory letter from Mr. Roosevelt, the President of the United States of America.

It will afford me great pleasure to communicate the contents of your excellency's very interesting letter to my Government.

Allow me to express to your excellency the great pleasure that Mr. Roosevelt, the President, will feel in reading the kindly sentiments that His Excellency the President, General Woss y Gil, and his cabinet have for the Government and people of the United States.

I beg, etc.,

W. F. POWELL.

ATTEMPT OF THE DOMINICAN GOVERNMENT TO BLOCKADE, BY DECREE, PORTS HELD BY INSURGENTS.

Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay.

No. 629, San Domingo Series.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

Santo Domingo City, October 30, 1903.

SIR: I have the honor to inform the Department that the agent of the Clyde Steamship Company, Mr. L. Pardo, appealed to our lega- . tion, stating that this Government demanded that the Cherokee discharge her cargo for the ports of Puerto Plata and Samana here; that the captain had refused to do so, as the Government did not offer a guaranty to secure the Clyde Company from loss if claims should be made by the consignees for goods on the vessel. I went immediately to the palace and requested of the minister an audience with the President, which was granted. I requested to be informed of the order that had been issued to the captain of the Cherokee. The President stated that the above ports being in insurrection, he thought it best to have the goods deposited here, as it would deprive the insurgents of provisions, and this would bring them to terms.

I requested to know if he thought that there were either arms or ammunition on board. He stated that he did not know; that there were provisions and an assorted cargo consisting of miscellaneous articles. I requested to know what disposition would be made of these goods when landed, and what did the Government propose to cover this company against loss arising from suits that they would incur from not landing these goods at their destinations.

The President replied that they would sell the provisions and retain the other part of the cargo in the custom-house. I then asked him if this was all they proposed to do to cover the damages that this company would have to bear. He replied that he supposed that there would be some damages to pay, but this would come up later.

I then informed him that officially my legation had not been informed that an insurrection was in existence, and that other legations had informed me that they had not been so informed; that this being the case, these places being regular ports of call, they had the right to enter; that I had been informed also that as the vessel was off Puerto Plata she was ordered not to enter by a Dominican gunboat, while a German vessel was allowed to enter and to load and unload; that as she was nearing Samana she was again stopped by two shots passing before her bow, and that the minister of war had given to the captain a written order not to stop at Macoris, but that he must proceed at once to this city.

I then informed the President that I was not aware that any portion of this territory was in blockade; such a fact had not been notified and that this Government could not at will close the ports of

to us,

this Republic to the commerce of the world without due and timely notice, nor could this Government institute a blockade simply by publication, but that it must be effective with a sufficient physical force to prevent vessels from entering, and that such force must be constant. I stated that I was informed that there was not such force there, both of their vessels of war at this time being in the Ozama River. I did not want to embarrass his Government, but my friendship to him could not conflict with my duty, and I suggested to him that it would be wise to rescind the order, as it might possibly lead to grave trouble, as I should insist that this vessel must return and be allowed to land her cargo at those places where she had been forcibly prevented.

The President then informed me that he could not rescind the order. I then stated—

Then, Your Excellency, there is but one course open to you to take. I shall direct the captain to proceed to those places to land this cargo, and you will either have to sink her or capture her, and when you do so you will accept all future responsibility for your action.

The President replied he would not accept the responsibility, but he would see the agent and captain and see if he could not come to some arrangement. I informed him I would be glad if he could; but if he could not I insisted that this vessel must be freely allowed to go to all her ports of sailing unmolested. Our interview ended.

Later in the day the agent and captain came to our legation again, stating that unless she landed the goods they would not allow her to leave for Azua, her next port. I requested the agent to send a protest to the minister of finance, and I wrote to the minister of foreign relations, stating we could not recognize the right to compel the vessel to discharge the cargo.

Later in the afternoon (October 30) the captain and agent returned to the legation, stating that the Government had given to them clearance papers, but refused to allow a pilot to go aboard and take the vessel out of the harbor until the cargo to those cities had been placed on the wharf. I asked the captain if he was well enough acquainted with the channel to take his vessel out without danger. He informed me he could. I then told him to signal for pilot, and after waiting a reasonable time to take his vessel out. The captain asked if that was my instruction. I informed him it was. He replied: "I will do it."

On his return to the ship he signaled for a pilot. One came. After he was on board the harbor master made him return. The captain ordered the lines cast off and took the vessel safely out.

I understand to-day, on her return trip, she will be denied clearance papers unless she discharges her cargo, and that if she proceeds to Samana or Puerto Plata they will prevent entrance. If captured, an attempt will be made to sink her. This latter statement I can say to the Department I do not believe. I trust I have acted in accordance with the views of the Department. I have, etc.,

W. F. POWELL.

[Inclosure 1.]

Mr. Pardo to Mr. Powell.

SANTO DOMINGO, October 30, 1903.

SIR: I beg to inform you, having received a communication from the minister of finance informing me, that the Government has decided that the cargo on board the

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