File No. 839.00/752a.]
The Secretary of State to the American Minister.
Washington, December 11, 1912.
Communicate in writing to Archbishop Nouel the following message from the President:
It is very distressing to me to know that your duties as Provisional President have proved so irksome, but I earnestly hope that you will continue to discharge them for the allotted time, in the interests of humanity and peace; and I can hardly doubt that every good element will join in supporting the Provisional Government and thus perform their patriotic duty toward the Dominican Republic, in whose welfare the United States is so vitally interested. I assure you that your efforts on behalf of the Dominican people will receive from the Government of the United States the sincerest and most earnest support.
When you hand this message to Archbishop Nouel, say that the President has ordered a battleship to proceed at once to Santo Domingo City; and you will do all you can during your conversation with the Archbishop to deter him from resigning. It is of the utmost importance that he should continue in office to the end of the term; but he should under no circumstances resign without giving notice of two or three months, in order to permit the formation of some other plan for the avoidance of suffering and bloodshed.