"Nevertheless, your Excellency knows that recently, in spite of all
the legitimate rights of my august sovereign, an English war-ship
has disembarked at Trinidad a detachment of armed troops and
taken possession of the island in the name of England.
"Following this assumption of territory, the Brazilian Government,
invoking a right of ancient Portuguese occupation (long ago
outlawed), has notified the English Government to surrender the
island to Brazil.
"I beg of your Excellency to ask of the Government of the United
States of North America to recognize the Principality of Trinidad
as an independent State, and to come to an understanding with the
other American Powers in order to guarantee its neutrality.
"Thus the Government of the United States of North America will
once more accord its powerful assistance to the cause of right and
of justice, misunderstood by England and Brazil, put an end to a
situation which threatens to disturb the peace, re-establish concord
between two great States ready to appeal to arms, and affirm itself,
moreover, as the faithful interpreter of the Monroe Doctrine.
"In the expectation of your reply please accept, Excellency, the
expression of my elevated consideration.
"The Grand Chancellor, Secretary for Foreign Affairs,
"COMTE DE LA BOISSIERE."
At that time Richard Olney was Secretary of State, and in his
treatment of the protest, and of the gentleman who wrote it, he
fully upheld the reputation he made while in office of lack of good
manners.
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