Mr. Thompson to Mr.
Hay.
American Legation,
Petropolis
,
May 6,
1904
.
No. 144.]
Sir: I send inclosed herewith a copy of the
second annual message of President Rodriguez Alves, read on May 3, at
the opening of the second session of the fifth legislature. I also send
full translation of certain sections of special interest to the United
States.
On the whole the message is of an optimistic tone, especially with
reference to the progress of the work of building a modern harbor and
dock system at Rio; a part, with the construction of a wide central
avenue in the city and the creation of a new National Department of
Health, of the plan to make Rio a healthy city, and particularly, to
free it from yellow fever, in which much progress is already
evident.
The financial situation is dwelt on at length and reflects the generally
improved conditions of recent years in the government’s finances which
since the time of the funding loan agreement in 1898 has apparently
nearly paid its way, at the expense, however, of largely increased taxes
and customs duties. A gradual recovery from the crisis of 1900 is also
apparent in the showings of exports and imports, which, according to the
estimates, both record considerable increases over the previous years.
The increase in exports is particularly noticeable—the regular annual
depreciation in the value of the coffee crop at last has been overcome
by the increase of the value of the rubber and cotton exports.
The Peruvian situation is dwelt on at length, this being the only serious
foreign complication Brazil has on its hands. Nothing new is, however,
said on this point.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Extracts from second annual message of President
Rodriguez Alves, read at the opening of the second session of
the fifth legislature.
The people of the Isthmus of Panama constituted itself last year into
an independent state under the name of Republic of Panama. This
important event was communicated here by the provisional government
then organized. I replied to this communication at the same time
with Argentina, Chile, the United States and Mexico, the five
republics thus recognizing the new republic, for whose prosperity I
have the best wishes.
After the denunciation by the Government of France of the commercial
modus vivendi we had with that country, the latter renewed it by
agreeing to desist from increasing the duties upon coffee, in
exchange for the application of our minimum tariff to French
products.
[Page 109]
To the United States of America, the country which you know is the
largest importer of the principal article of Brazilian exportation,
and moreover, receives it free of duty into its markets, I have
conceded, to be effective within the current fiscal year and
beginning April 20 last, the reduction of 20 per cent in import
duties of certain articles of their production, availing myself thus
of the authority you gave me by article 6 of law No. 1144, of
December 30, 1903.
Mr. Joaquim Nabuco, minister on special mission in Rome, comissioned
to defend our right in the arbitrament of the boundary question
between Brazil and British Guiana, already presented his third and
last memorial to his Majesty the King of Italy, on the same occasion
in which the English embassador presented his. The discussion
between the parties being thus terminated, we await, with the
greatest confidence in the justice of our cause, the sentence of the
august sovereign.
Through the initiative of the Argentine Government, which I accepted
with the greatest satisfaction, the Governments of the Argentine,
Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil will be represented in a sanitary
congress which will take place in this city, and the opening of
which is fixed for the 5th of June next.* * * The preparations in
Brazil for the transmissal of the articles destined to the universal
exposition at St. Louis, in the United States of America, have been
completed. The articles have been sent and the Brazilian
commissioners have proceeded thither.
In view of the quantity and quality of the objects sent from almost
all the States and from the federal capital the conviction is
justified that our country will be well represented, and to this end
the State governments have efficiently contributed, as well as the
commercial associations and industrial concerns.
Our pavilion is almost completed—it is among the first completed—and
according to the opinion of reliable persons it will be particularly
prominent among all the other nations at that great fair for its
beauty.
