It
read as follows:
"GRANDE CHANCELLERIE DE LA PRINCIPAUTE DE
TRINIDAD,
27 WEST THIRTY-SIXTH STREET,
NEW YORK CITY, U. S. A.,
"NEW YORK, _July_ 30, 1895.
_"To His Excellency Mr. the Secretary of State of
the Republic of the United States of North
America, Washington, D. C.:_
"EXCELLENCY.--I have the honor to recall to your memory:
"1. That in the course of the month of September, 1893, Baron
Harden-Hickey officially notified all the Powers of his taking
possession of the uninhabited island of Trinidad; and
"2. That in course of January, 1894, he renewed to all these Powers
the official notification of the said taking of possession, and
informed them at the same time that from that date the land would
be known as 'Principality of Trinidad'; that he took the title of
'Prince of Trinidad,' and would reign under the name of James I.
"In consequence of these official notifications several Powers have
recognized the new Principality and its Prince, and at all events
none thought it necessary at that epoch to raise objections or
formulate opposition.
"The press of the entire world has, on the other hand, often
acquainted readers with these facts, thus giving to them all
possible publicity. In consequence of the accomplishment of these
various formalities, and as the law of nations prescribes that
'derelict' territories belong to whoever will take possession of
them, and as the island of Trinidad, which has been abandoned for
years, certainly belongs to the aforesaid category, his Serene
Highness Prince James I was authorized to regard his rights on the
said island as perfectly valid and indisputable.
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