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thing even remotely likely to reach the court. An entire absence of business for the court would be the highest justification for its creation.

The part that has been taken in connection with the court by its host, Costa Rica, has been a most important one and more than creditably carried out. A special building has been fitted up and furnished for the use of the court and the utmost hospitality extended to its judges, and every effort put forth to show them and the Republics of Central America how deeply Costa Rica appreciates the honor that was done her through the selection of Cartago as the seat of the court.

Costa Rica is an evidence of what peace and quiet can accomplish in the upbuilding of a country. She is not burdened with expense for an army; her agriculture is extending; no complaints are heard as to the operation of justice within her limits; her schools are full and are increasing in number, and her people quietly and contentedly go about their labors and occupations free from any preoccupation as to disorder within their country. There seems to be no reason why this should not be the fact in each of the Central American Republics, and it was the confident hope and belief of officials of the different Republics whom I had the honor and pleasure to meet during my voyage that the new court at Cartago was a first step to that end, and that from it other aids toward the happiness and content of the people of Central America would come.

Let me in conclusion express my deep thanks for the honor conferred upon me by my designation as high commissioner representing the President at the inauguration of this new court and the great pleasure and satisfaction I derived in connection with that memorable and historic occurrence.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

BUFFALO, N. Y., July 21, 1908.

WM. I. BUCHANAN.

MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF COSTA RICA TO THE COSTA RICAN

File No. 2755/7-9.

No. 1332.]

CONGRESS.

Chargé Weitzel to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION,

San Jose, May 11, 1908. SIR: I have the honor to advise that the Congress of Costa Rica met in regular session on Friday, May 1, 1908.

After the new deputies, 21 in number, or half the total membership, had taken the oath of office, the organization was effected and Juan B. Quiros was chosen president of the Congress.

Mr. Quiros is about 56 years old, of considerable ability and long legislative experience. He was educated in England, and seems to be well fitted to carry out the Government's legislative program.

On the opening day the President's message was read and referred to the proper committees. A résumé thereof is appended hereto, and three copies of the original are being transmitted to you under separate cover. GEORGE T. WEITZEL.

I am, etc.

[Inclosure.]

Summary of the President's Message to the Congress of Costa Rica, May 1, 1908.

The President congratulates the country that there has been no disturbance of the public order, but, on the contrary, a complete satisfaction with existing conditions. He comments on the peaceful elections of April, but proposes changes in the election laws so as to shorten the duration of the campaign period.

Of the peace treaties, signed at Washington, and of the court of justice therein named, he says:

"This tribunal, the first of the kind organized in the world, is called to exercise a powerful and beneficent influence on the tranquillity and cordial relations of the Central American States. The unique establishment of such an international organization will constitute for Central America a matter of legitimate pride; but greater will be our glory if the court becomes in fact a sure means of terminating peacefully whatever controversy may arise between two or more of the nations engaged, and if, as is fervently to be desired, we all regard with fidelity its sentences, not only by reason of the respect which is due from us to the judgments of a tribunal agreed upon and constituted by ourselves, but especially by the natural desire and, it may be said, by the unutterable satisfaction of showing to the world that the Republics of Central America, held for many years and by many people as turbulent countries lacking in judgment, can, when the case occurs, give also an example of prudent and good government. I ought not to miss taking advantage of this opportunity to signify once more to Their Excellencies Presidents Roosevelt and Diaz the gratitude of the Government and people of Costa Rica for the solicitous mediation with which they have procured the guananty of peace in Central America, and for the efficacious collaboration in preparing for these Republics a new era of tranquillity and progress. Costa Rica is ready for its part, and I fervently hope that on their part our sister nations will soon be prepared to do everything possible, so that the noble purpose of our new order of Central American policy will not have vain results."

The Executive then speaks of his conference on January 10, 1908, with President Zelaya, of Nicaragua, and signifies his intention to send to the Congress a treaty the terms of which were agreed upon at said meeting.

He states that the value of exports has decreased somewhat, on account of a shortage in the coffee crop, caused in part by inopportune rains; that the deficiency, amounting to about one-half, will be recompensed in part by the increase of prices and by the prospect of an unusually large crop for the coming year; and that this deficiency, united to the American financial crisis worked an alarming effect on the money circulation that might have had lamentable consequences.

He recommends internal improvements and the building of bridges and roads as the best means to promote agriculture, notes the increase in extent and importance of the production of cacao, and promises later to submit a contract made with the Messrs. Peralta and Bryant for the cultivation and treatment of fiber plant and the manufacture of bags and cordage therefrom.

He is pleased to report that by a decision of the Holy See eight feast days have been converted into days of labor, a result containing much import for the welfare of the country, which 20 years of civil law could not bring about in the habits of the faithful.

He says that public hygiene will continue to be the favorite theme and the particular solicitude of the Government.

The message contains the following financial statement:

Revenue:

FINANCES.1

Customs duties (increase 25 per cent)----- C5, 058, 375. 25
Liquor receipts---.

Government railroad, mail, and telegraph___

Total (increase of C965,285)

All other sources-

Di. bursements:

1, 884, 579. 18

572, 487.51

C7, 515, 441. 94

401, 033. 03

[blocks in formation]

To meet this deficit in part the internal debt was increased from 8,592,086.77 to C9,752,684.73.

As to the external debt, the Government has entered into direct negotiations with counsel for the bondholders, and has a good prospect of making satisfactory arrangements, and for that purpose counts on the export tax on bananas, now under consideration, as offering a solid basis on which to reassume the obligation of the debt.

He recommends the requisition of telephone lines and the extension of the Pacific Railroad for the short distance necessary to make a continuous road from ocean to ocean, which project is favorably reported on by the American engineer who was employed to investigate the matter.

He pleads for the further development of the system of primary education and for the permanency of tenure of school teachers without reference to political affiliations.

His final word is for the revision of the penal code.

11.00-$0.46.

CUBA.

DEATH OF EX-PRESIDENT PALMA, OF CUBA.

File No. 16387/1.

Minister Morgan to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram.]

AMERICAN LEGATION, Habana, November 4, 1908.

Ex-President Palma died at 11 o'clock to-night at Santiago de

Cuba.

File No. 16378/1.

MORGAN.

The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Morgan.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 5, 1908. (Mr. Bacon instructs Mr. Morgan to convey, by direction of the President, sincere condolence and regret at the death of the distinguished ex-President Tomas Estrada Palma. Mr. Morgan is directed to express to the family Mr. Bacon's personal sympathy.)

File No. 16387/1.

The Secretary of State to Minister Morgan.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 7, 1908.

(Mr. Root instructs Mr. Morgan to convey to the family of the late Don Tomas Estrada Palma an expression of deep sorrow and sympathy in their bereavement. Mr. Root states that he mourns the death of Don Tomas Estrada Palma as the loss of a personal friend as well as a noble pure minded lover of his country.)

File No. 16387/7-12.

The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Morgan.

No. 210.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 19, 1908.

SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 801, of the 7th instant,' inclosing newspaper clippings and the Official Gazette

1 Not printed.

announcing the death of Señor Don Tomas Estrada Palma, lately President of Cuba.

As you have been advised by telegraph, the report of the death of this patriotic and enlightened statesman, the first President of the Republic of Cuba, was received by the President, the Government, and the people of the United States with sincere regret, and the President expressed in his telegram to Señora Palma the sentiments of sympathy widely felt throughout the United States.

The department specially charged with the intercourse between the United States and Cuba now avails itself of this opportunity to convey to the Government and people of Cuba its respectful sympathy.

I am, etc.,

ROBERT BACON.

ELECTION OF JOSE MIGUEL GOMEZ AS PRESIDENT OF CUBA,

President-elect Gomez to President Roosevelt.

[Telegram.]

HABANA, November 16, 1908.

Allow me to express to you our congratulations and heartfelt thanks for the absolute impartiality, tact, and ableness observed by Governor Magoon and subordinates during the elections, thus giving the people of Cuba an opportunity to cast their votes with entire liberty.

JOSÉ MIGUEL GOMEZ.

President Roosevelt to President-elect Gomez.

[Telegram.]

THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, November 16, 1908. Pray accept my hearty congratulations on your election as President of the Republic of Cuba. I have not cabled before because I desired to receive full official reports of the election. These are at hand, and I rejoice at the orderly and law-abiding manner in which the election was carried on; the rigid observance by all the officers not merely of the law, but of the demands of propriety and the loyal acceptance of the result by the people of Cuba.

The conduct of this election shows in impressive fashion the seriousness with which the Cuban people have now prepared themselves once more to assume the duties of a free and independent Republic. In two months from this date your Government will assume complete control and the United States authorities will once more turn over to the representatives of the Cuban people the beautiful and fertile island of which you are so justly proud. I most earnestly wish you and your colleagues in the Government the greatest measure of success. and assure you of the genuine and lasting friendship of the United States. THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

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