File No. 704.9318/4.
Minister Hale to the
Secretary of State.
American Legation,
San Jose
,
November 5, 1914
.
Sir: In response to the Department’s No. 22 of
September 30, I have the honor to report that I addressed a letter to
the Minister for Foreign Affairs in accordance with the Department’s
instructions, a copy of which I enclose; and that I have received a
reply which seems to concede all we ask, a copy of which I enclose in
translation.
Awaiting the Department’s further instructions, I have [etc.]
[Inclosure 1.]
Minister Hale to
the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
No. 54.]
American Legation,
San José
,
October 22, 1914
.
Excellency: In response to your
excellency’s note of September 9, a copy of which I transmitted to
my Government, I am instructed to say that the Government of the
United States has not asked and does not desire in any way to
Interfere in matters relating to Costa Rican internal affairs and is
well aware that Chinese as well as other foreign residents in Costa
Rica enjoy all the guaranties which a civilized nation can grant.
Occasionally, however, questions of an international character arise
which require diplomatic treatment; and, since China has no
diplomatic or consular representatives in Costa Rica, it appears
that the Chinese Government merely desires the representatives of
the United States to act for China when such questions arise
affecting the interests of Chinese legally resident in the country.
Diplomatic and consular representatives of the United States have
for many years represented China also in Guatemala, Nicaragua, and
Salvador, and it is but natural that the Chinese Republic should ask
the United States Government to perform the same service in Costa
Rica. My Government therefore was induced in ordinary courtesy to
agree to do so provided the Government of Costa Rica would consent.
It did not anticipate that such consent would be withheld and my
note to your excellency of September 3 was regarded by me as little
more than perfunctory, and for that reason was less specific than it
would otherwise have been.
I venture to express the hope that the foregoing explanation may
remove from your excellency’s mind any misunderstanding of the
position of the [Page 179] United
States in this matter, and that your excellency’s Government will
reconsider its decision and thus enable the Government of the United
States to respond favorably to the friendly request of China.
I avail [etc.]
[Inclosure 2—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Minister Hale.
Foreign Office
San Jose
,
November 4, 1914
.
Mr. Minister: In reply to your courteous
note No. 54 dated October 22 last, in which your excellency is
pleased to state the reasons which induce your Government to desire
to accede to the request, made to it by the Chinese Government, for
diplomatic and consular protection by the American Government for
Chinese citizens resident in this Republic, I have the honor to
inform your excellency that even though my Government, for reasons
which I ventured to set forth in the note of September 9, considers
that the protection asked for is unnecessary there is nevertheless
no impediment to granting the request of your excellency in view of
the active and repeated interest you have shown in the matter.
It is understood, indeed, that the said protection, as your
excellency well observes in the important communication to which I
reply, extends no further than to those Chinese who are found
legally established in the country.
This occasion affords me the pleasure [etc]
