The President of the United States to the President of Chile. [Telegram.] THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, September 12, 1906. I thank you for your courteous telegram of the 5th instant. It is my earnest desire that the visit of Secretary Root shall strengthen the close and cordial relations uniting our two nations. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE. Minister Hicks to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] SANTIAGO, August 18, 1906. Night sixteenth frightful earthquake, destroying many buildings with loss of life. Lighter shocks continued until to-day. Thousands persons slept two nights in parks. Plazas and houses deserted. Legation safe. HICKS. President Roosevelt to the President of Chile. [Telegram.] WASHINGTON, August 19, 1906. In the name of the people of the United States I offer tribute of sorrow and sympathy to their afflicted brethren of Chile by reason of the awful disaster that has befallen Valparaiso. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Hicks. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 19, 1906. The people of the United States share in grief of Chile. President telegraphs condolences. Minister Hicks to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] ADEE. SANTIAGO, August 19, 1906. (Mr. Hicks reports 30 deaths in Santiago and much destruction of property. Valparaiso reported 500 deaths and immense destruction by fire; many other towns wiped out. He states there is universal mourning.) President Roosevelt to the President of Chile. [Telegram.] WASHINGTON, August 20, 1906. Let me repeat my expression of intense sympathy and express the shocked horror this people feels at the appalling disaster that has befallen your great nation. We are following the news with most eager and lively concern. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Hicks. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 20, 1906. President Roosevelt has cabled directly to President of Chile an expression of intense sympathy felt at the appalling disaster that has befallen her. You will supplement this by the proper representations. at the foreign office. Minister Hicks to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] ADEE. SANTIAGO, CHILE, August 21, 1906. (Mr. Hicks states that he has delivered message to the Government and also one from Mr. Root. He has received the President's message. There is universal mourning. The number of deaths estimated by the minister for foreign affairs is, Valparaiso 1,000, rest of country 400. The loss of life and property, the number wounded, and the extent of the desolation much worse than that of San Francisco. Also states that Mr. Root's visit will be one of form and very brief; that he will only stop long enough to extend his personal sympathy to the President.) The Chilean Chargé to the Acting Secretary of State. [Translation.] LEGATION OF CHILE, Washington, August 21, 1906. SIR: Pursuant to my Government's instructions, I have the honor to say to your excellency that the Chilean Government and people have received with the most sincere and friendly gratitude the noble expressions of sympathy sent to Santiago in behalf of the people of the United States by the Government of this great and prosperous nation in so befitting and expressive a manner on the occasion of the earthquake which made havoc of a part of our national territory on the 16th instant. MANUEL J. VEGA. I avail myself, etc., Minister Hicks to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] SANTIAGO, CHILE, August 22, 1906. Anxiety over earthquake decreases, although mild shocks still continue; financial and business situation quite serious, and destruction of Valparaiso produces fear of panic; subscriptions raised for relief of sufferers. HICKS. The President of Chile to President Roosevelt. [Telegram-Translation.] SANTIAGO, August 23, 1906. The heartfelt expressions of condolence which you have deigned to reiterate have touched the Chilean heart in a grateful and profound manner. It will never forget that in this hour of ordeal it had at its side the great nation you so nobly represent. Again I thank you most cordially. JERMAN RIESCO. Minister Hicks to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Santiago, August 23, 1906. Deaths Valparaiso now estimated 2,000, financial losses in all Chile very large, absolute paralization of business, great destitution among people. I would suggest American subscriptions for sufferers. Arrangements can be made Canadian Bank of Commerce, New York. and Bank of Tarapaca in Santiago for immediate transfer of funds. Mr. Root expected Valparaiso about September 2; visit will be informal and short. HICKS. Minister Hicks to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Santiago, August 23, 1906. Have just delivered to President $10,000, gift of people of San Francisco, Cal., for earthquake sufferers; first American subscription. HICKS. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas a dreadful calamity has befallen our sister Republic of Chile in the destruction by earthquake of Valparaiso and other localities; and Whereas we of this nation at this moment see the city of San Francisco struggling upward from the ruins in which a like catastrophe overwhelmed her last spring; and Whereas we keep keenly in mind the thankful appreciation we felt for the way in which the peoples of Europe, Asia, and the Americas came forward with generous offers of assistance: Now therefore, in this time of woe of our sister Republic I ask that our people out of their abundance now strive to do to another as others last spring did to us. The National Red Cross Association has already taken measures to collect any subscriptions that may be offered for this purpose, and I trust that there will be a generous response. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington this twenty-fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and six, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and thirtyfirst. [SEAL.] By the PRESIDENT: ALVEY A. ADEE, Acting Secretary of State. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Hicks. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 4, 1906. Mr. Adee informs Mr. Hicks that he is named special representative of the American National Red Cross to receive funds raised here for the earthquake sufferers, and is to distribute them through the Red Cross of Chile, or as he thinks best. Mr. Hicks is also told to notify the Chilean Government and consult it as to the disposition of the funds. No. 117.] Minister Hicks to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN LEGATION, Santiago, December 31, 1906. SIR: Referring to my Nos. 83, 85, and 104, dated September 14, 1906; September 21, 1906, and December 6, 1906, I now have the a Not printed. pleasure to transmit herewith the accounts and vouchers for the funds sent me for distribution among the earthquake sufferers by the Red Cross societies in the United States. The accounts are up to and include December 5, They show that the total amount of money received by me through the State Department was $8,943.38 American currency, equal to $30,831.35 in Chilean currency, that $23,480 had been expended, leaving a balance in the bank of $7,351.35. Since that date I have received department's telegram of December 29, authorizing a draft for $3,410, which was sold to the Bank of Tarapaca for $11,876.90 Chilean money, the proceeds remaining in the bank subject to check. Approximately, therefore, at this date there is on hand about $12,000 Chilean money, which is being drawn against in small sums every day. It is hardly possible for me to report in detail within the limits of an ordinary dispatch the labor that this legation has performed in the distribution of these funds. Under department's instructions I was directed to consult with the foreign office and the Chilean Red Cross societies and pay out the money at my discretion. There are no Red Cross societies in Chile, and I was advised by the minister of foreign affairs to disburse the money according to my best judgment. The easiest and quickest way to do the work would have been to turn the whole amount over to the Government, and thus get rid of the labor and responsibility; or else, in the distribution to private parties, hand it out in large sums so as to make the work shorter. But I could not reconcile either method with my sense of duty under the circumstances. The Chilean Government has received officially immense sums for the relief of the earthquake sufferers. I have handed over to it $15,000 American money from the city of San Francisco and $5,000 from Los Angeles, Cal. The aggregate sums received by the Government are so vast that the work of distribution is a puzzle to the authorities, and I understand only a small amount has been actually disbursed up to date, and, of course, only a portion of the sufferers have been assisted. In the face of these conditions, I consulted with a prominent Chilean lady, Señora de Jordan, president of the Woman's AntiTuberculosis League, and with her assistance and cooperation began the distribution. We decided to try to relieve only cases of actual suffering, and by the payment of small amounts at a time, giving preference always to Americans or descendants of Americans. According to the appearance of the applicant, the amount ranged from $50 to $200 Chilean money, and in each case we required testimonials as to the character of the sufferer. Where there was unmistakable evidence of great hardship, the applicant after having been paid a small sum was told to come again, for to many of these poor people the possession of a large sum of money was unusual and bewildering, and it was deemed best to extend the payments over several weeks. A majority of the applicants were widows with large families, in many cases six or eight children, quite a number had nine and ten children, and in at least one case there were twelve children to be provided for. Sometimes both parents had been killed in the earthquake, leaving small children helpless and uncared for, with the home. and its contents destroyed by the earthquake. |