Manuel Maria Gautier to To His Excellency Don Julio Thirion de Montauban, August 12, 1873

D.—Mr. Gautier to Mr. Montauban.

dominican republic.—ministry of foreign relations.

Most Excellent Sir: Your letter of the 12th ultimo, addressed to his excellency the President of the republic, was received yesterday, and I at once sent a reply which explains the conduct of the Haytien government in manifesting its desires for a treaty of peace, and the conduct which the Dominican government proposes to observe in the matter, viz: to listen to no propositions for a treaty of peace until the Haytiens shall have plainly shown, by their acts, that they desire to live as good neighbors.

Your excellency will hereby see the gravity of the act of affixing your signature to the preliminaries of the treaty of’ peace referred to in this communication, for although, as you say, it in nowise obligates the government, the antecedent still remains of the signing of this document by you, a representative of high grade of the Dominican republic, a circumstance from which the Haytiens will seek to make all the capital possible, with interpretations and commentaries, although these latter may be Unjustifiable. The government, therefore, while disapproving your action in this matter, deeply regrets it, and instructs you to withdraw your signature from the aforesaid document if possible.

Your excellency, being at a great distance from the theatre of events, and being guided solely by your good faith and the customs in use among cultivated nations, can form no adequate idea of the machinations of that crafty government, which ever has an eye to the conquest of our soil.

The Dominicans, although poor, and inhabiting a comparatively obscure spot in the midst of the ocean, are proud of their independence and jealous of their freedom and their rights; they well know how great is the blessing of breathing the air of their native land, and what are the advantages of maintaining the integrity of their territory, and, sooner than preserve it for the vandals of the west, they would resort to any other combination more in harmony with the progress of the age and better suited to the dignity of their historical memories.

It is therefore necessary to destroy, as far as possible, all vestige of that document, and for you to avoid hearing Haytien proposals in future, which must be sent from Hayti to none but the supreme government of this republic, which alone is thoroughly acquainted with their tendencies and policy.

Be pleased to accept the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.