The Duke de Arcos
to Mr. Hay.
[Translation.]
Washington, June 1,
1899.
Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to notify your
excellency that, having been appointed by His Majesty the King of Spain,
and in his name by the Queen Regent of the Kingdom, his envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary near the United States of
America, I have arrived at this capital for the purpose of taking charge
of that high office.
I transmit to your excellency, inclosed, the customary copy of the royal
letter accrediting me in that capacity and a copy of the short
[Page 681]
discourse which I propose to
pronounce upon being received by the President of the Republic.
I therefore request your excellency to have the goodness to ask the
President for an audience, in order that I may present him my letters of
credence, and to inform me of the day and hour at which it is to take
place.
I avail myself of this opportunity to tender to your excellency the
assurances of my highest consideration.
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
Don Alfonso
XIII, by the grace of God and the constitution
King of Spain, and in his name and during his minority Dona
Maria Cristina, Queen Regent of the Kingdom, to the President of the Republic of the United
States.
Great and Good Friend: The good political
and commercial relations which existed between Spain and the United
States having been reestablished, we have decided to select Don José
Brunetti y Gayso, Duke of Arcos, Grandee of Spain, Gentleman of the
Bedchamber to His Majesty, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of
Isabel the Catholic and of Naval Merit, Commander of the Royal and
Distinguished Order of Carlos III, etc., to represent us in your
Republic in the capacity of our envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary. The special qualities which unite in the Duke of
Arcos, his recognized merit, and the knowledge which he possesses of
the interests of our two countries make us hope that he will be
favorably received by you, and we therefore do not hesitate to
request you to give entire faith and credit to all that he may tell
you in our name; and wishing you happiness and prosperity to your
Republic, we are, great and good friend, your good friend,
- Maria Cristina.
- Francisco Silvela,
Minister of State.
In the Palace at
Madrid, May
3, 1899.
[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
Mr. President: I have the honor to place in
your excellency’s hands the royal letter by which Her Majesty, the
Queen Regent of Spain, in the name of her august son, King Alfonso
XIII, accredits me near this Government in the capacity of envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary.
I have come to renew the relations of friendship which have existed
from of old between Spain and the United States, and which were
interrupted by the war of last year. The treaty of peace which Spain
has signed put an end to that war, and now, looking only to the
future, Spain desires that her relations with this Republic may be
as friendly as they were in times past, and from the days in which
this country was struggling to gain its independence. It is my task
to contribute to the renewal of these relations, to strengthen them,
and to draw them closer; and in the discharge of it I hope to be
aided by the kindness and cooperation of your excellency and of your
Government.
