Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay.
Port au Prince, Haiti, February 9, 1900.
Sir: Prior to my departure from Santo Domingo City I called upon President Jimenez and conveyed to him the congratulations of the President, Mr. McKinley, and of the Government of the United States upon his being called to assume the duties incumbent upon the President of that Republic, in accordance with instructions received by cable. I also stated in a few words that it was the wish of the President, Mr. McKinley, and of our Government that the warm relations that had existed in the past would be strengthened in the future during the time he held this important office, and that it was the hope of the President that within the near future a new era of prosperity would dawn upon the Republic, bringing happiness to all classes of its citizens.
The President, Mr. Jimenez, requested that I would convey to the President, Mr. McKinley, his warmest thanks for the kindly sentiments that had been extended to him by the President and the Government of the United States; that he had a high regard for his positive character, for the marked justice that he exhibited on all occasions, for the great prosperity that pervaded all business throughout the United States since his advent into the office of President; that it would be his constant care to cultivate the closest relations with his great sister Republic; that he proposed in a very short time to send his minister of foreign relations, Mr. Carvajal, on a special mission to the United States to the President, Mr. McKinley; that the Government felt itself strong now; that there was no censorship of the press of the country; that it could express its opinions freely and was free to criticise the Government on all public measures without fear, nor was there a constant espionage on the citizens of the Republic; that the spies of the Government were not present to narrate or bring every word uttered, and none need now feel the fear of imprisonment or death for criticising the policy of the Government. Concluding, he again desired me to convey to the President, Mr. McKinley, his high regard, and wished that the future prosperity of the United States would overshadow the prosperity of the past.
I have, etc.