Mr. Gresham to Mr. Eustis.
Washington, February 16, 1896.
Vignaud’s telegram 14th instant received. Government of Santo Domingo denies complicity of any of its authorities in murder of Cacavilli, and insists that this will be established by investigation by French agent alone. While not claiming that the Dominican Government’s contract with an American corporation precludes France from exercising any means of redress against that Government to which she is entitled by international law, the Government of the United States, as a friendly neutral and mindful of the interests of American citizens under contract referred to in my telegram of 11th instant, indulges the hope that France will exhaust all peaceful means of settling the controversy before resorting to force.