United States on September 24, 1912, as the provisional frontier between the Dominican Republic and Haiti pending final arbitral determination of the dividing line. I avail [etc.] I. A. CERNUDA. NOTE.-Receipt of the foregoing communication was acknowledged by the Department of State, with thanks, on July 11, 1913. THE AMERICAN MINISTER AS AN ARBITRATOR OF A FRENCH CLAIM. File No. 123.R911/79. The American Minister to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Santo Domingo, February 11, 1913. A French citizen, arbitrarily expelled from Puerto Plata during the Victoria administration, has filed a claim for damages. The Dominican Government admits the right to damages but thinks the amount claimed exorbitant. The matter is to be submitted to arbitration and the Government requests me to act with the French Minister, we two to select a third arbitrator. I request instruction. RUSSELL. File No. 123.R911/79. The Secretary of State to the American Minister. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 14, 1913. If you feel disposed to act as arbitrator without compensation, you are authorized to do so. KNOX. ECUADOR. RECOGNITION OF PRESIDENT PLAZA BY THE UNITED STATES. File No. 822.001 P69/3.] The President to the Constitutional President of Ecuador. THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, January 10, 1913. GREAT AND GOOD FRIEND: I have received your letter of the 20th of September last', in which Your Excellency announced your assumption, on the 30th of August last, of the Presidency of the Republic of Ecuador. 2 I cordially reciprocate the sentiments you express for the continuance of the friendly relations which have heretofore existed between the United States and Ecuador, and I assure Your Excellency of my best wishes for your personal welfare and for the prosperity of the Republic over which you have been called upon to preside. Your Good Friend, WM. H. TAFT. MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT, GENERAL LEÓNIDAS PLAZA GUTIÉRREZ, TO THE CONGRESS. File No. 822.032/11. No. 19.] The American Minister to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN LEGATION, Quito, August 13, 1913. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the Message of the President of the Republic to Congress which was read at the first session on August 10th. The message chiefly draws attention to the reforms begun by General Plaza in the general administration of the country. I have [etc.] MONTGOMERY SCHUYLER. [Inclosure-Translation-Extract.3] The Government through the Secretary of State has whenever necessary called to the attention of the [Guayaquil & Quito] Railroad Company the deficiencies and irregularities noticed in its service and has required the discontinuance of illegal conditions authorized or tolerated by preceding administrations. The Company has either acquiesced or failed to respond or alleged rights that the Government, by itself, could not ignore. I believe that the present diffi 1 See For. Rel. 1912, p. 411. The 31st. This passage is the only one making reference to the United States, excepting a reference to the acceptance of the American Minister. culties will continue until they are taken up by the arbitrators contemplated by article 27 of the contract of June 14, 1897, who are to be appointed by the Presidents of Ecuador and the United States of North America. During the present year we were at one time at the point of organizing the arbitral tribunal, for there appeared in this city Mr. Henry Janes, the arbitrator appointed by the then American President, Mr. Taft.' As we, on our part, had appointed Doctor Alfredo Baquerizo Moreno, the tribunal seemed about to be organized. It was not so, however. Difficulties arose regarding the constitution of the tribunal and while the discussion of this delicate matter was going on, Mr. Janes suspended his participation and returned to his country. We are, therefore, where we were before; but we hope that the new President of the United States, Mr. Woodrow Wilson, who has so outspokenly proclaimed his intense Pan-American spirit, will soon appoint some one to replace Mr. Janes on the tribunal. Quito, December 15, 1913–1 p. m. Revolutionists at Emeraldas last Friday attacked several launches under Red Cross which contained wounded; Government authorities are taking refuge aboard the Cotopaxi; Emeraldas will be surrendered to the revolutionists; possibility of bombardment and closure of the port. The U. S. transport ship Buffalo is now at Corinto, and I am requested by manager of Central & South American Telegraph Co. to secure an order for the Buffalo to proceed to Esmeraldas, in which request I join. File No. 822.00/324. HARTMAN. AMERICAN LEGATION, Quito, December 15, 1913-5 p. m. Since my telegram of 1 o'clock the Minister for Foreign Affairs has confirmed all the statements therein except the possibility of bombardment and actual surrender of Esmeraldas. He admits the defeat of the Government forces, of whom [omission] were killed and 130 captured. File No. 822.00/326. HARTMAN. AMERICAN LEGATION, Quito, December 16, 1913. Bombardment of Esmeraldas is threatened. Presence of the Buffalo would prevent unnecessary destruction of life and property. I again recommend that it proceed to that port. HARTMAN. File No. 822.00/326. The Secretary of State to the American Minister. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 18, 1913. Call the Government's attention to the President's statement of policy, communicated in Department's March 6 [12]' and ascertain if there is anything we can do to discourage the revolutionists and support the constitutional Government. Ascertain the reasons given by the revolutionists for their attack. In Santo Domingo our Minister recently secured a cessation of hostilities on condition that desired reforms would be effected peacefully, and yesterday a special election was held there. We shall be pleased to resort to whatever means the United States can properly employ to cause the revolutionists to follow constitutional methods of obtaining redress. BRYAN. File No. 822.00/330. The American Minister to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Quito, December 24, 1913. I have presented to the Minister for Foreign Affairs the subject of your telegram of December 18. He appreciates our motives but feels that the situation does not warrant any negotiations with the revolutionists, basing his opinion (1) on the killing of physicians and nurses of the Red Cross by revolutionists in so brutal a way that his Government cannot treat with them with self-respect; and (2) on the Government's confidence in soon overcoming the revolutionists. There are two causes for the revolution: (1) the assumption that President Plaza was responsible for the killing of President Alfaro in 1912, and the intention of the revolutionists that the death of President Plaza shall follow: (2) the desire of the revolutionists to get their hands into the public treasury. These causes are probably not susceptible of compromise. The Acting Secretary of State to Henry L. Janes, American Arbitrator. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 14, 1912. SIR: In accordance with your personal request, I enclose herewith for your information a copy and paraphrase of telegraphic instruc 1 See p. 7. Continued from For. Rel. 1912, pp. 412-422, tions transmitted to the American Legation at Quito in connection with the arbitration of the claims of the Guayaquil and Quito Railroad and of the Government of Ecuador, and your designation as arbitrator under the terms of the contract.1 I am [etc.] HUNTINGTON WILSON. File No. 422.11G93/553. The American Chargé d'Affaires to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Quito, December 14, 1912. The Legation of Ecuador at Washington has been instructed to request the delay of the departure of Mr. Janes until a note on the scope of the proposed arbitration, now in the possession of this Legation, can reach the Department by mail. I send this telegram at the request of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. While appreciating the undesirability of delay, yet, as further proof of the willingness of the United States carefully to consider all arguments advanced by Ecuador, I believe that acquiescence in the Minister's request will have a good effect. BINGHAM. File No. 422.11G93/553. The Secretary of State to the American Chargé d'Affaires. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 16, 1912. Your telegram of the 14th instant. Explain to the Government that Janes has already been appointed arbitrator and that it is now too late to defer his departure. Transmit to Janes at Panama a duplicate of the note of the Foreign Office. Such instructions as may be necessary will be sent upon the receipt of the note here. KNOX. File No. 422.11G93/563. The American Chargé d'Affaires to the Secretary of State. No. 170.] AMERICAN LEGATION, SIR: I have the honor, with reference to telegram from this Legation dated December 14, to report that the Minister for Foreign Affairs requested an interview with me on the afternoon of December 14th for the purpose of discussing matters connected with the proposed arbitration. 'Printed in For. Rel. 1912, p. 421. |