Mr. Hay to the
Duke de Arcos.
Department of State,
Washington, June 2,
1899.
No. 1.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note of the 1st instant, inclosing a copy of the royal
letter accrediting you in the capacity of envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary of His Majesty the King of Spain near the
Government of the United States, and requesting to be informed when the
President will receive you in order that you may present the original to
him.
[Page 682]
In reply I have the honor to state that the President has been pleased to
designate Saturday, the 3d instant, at 11 o’clock a.m., as the day and
hour when he will receive you for the purpose. If you will call at this
Department on the quarter before that hour I shall be pleased to
accompany you to the Executive Mansion and to present you to the
President.
Accept, etc.,
Reply of the President to Spanish minister’s
address.
Mr. Minister: I receive with the greatest
gratification the letter by which Her Majesty the Queen Regent of
Spain, in the name of her august son, King Alfonso XIII, has
accredited you near this Government as envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary.
You will find, Mr. Minister, a cordial welcome in this country, not
only from those whose friendship you acquired during your former
residence, but from all our people, who rejoice, as I do, at the
renewal of the ancient bonds of amity which, with a brief
interruption, have united our nations for more than a hundred years.
That these friendly relations may be confirmed and strengthened to
the advantage of both peoples is my earnest wish, and I can assure
you that every member of this Government will heartily cooperate
with you in that desirable end.
