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has served in Cuba with the American Government, filling the posi-
tion of Disbursing Officer from August 1, 1899 to May 20, 1902, and
is conversant with the financial operations of the Government of
Porto Rico and the Philippine Islands, for whom he has acted as Dis-
bursing Agent, and with the changes that were necessary to bring
the accounting and financial systems of those Governments to their
present high standard. In addition he has made a study of Philip-
pine currency.

He is most highly recommended by General McIntyre, Chief of
the Bureau of Insular Affairs and by General Clarence Edwards, for-
merly Chief of that bureau.

Mr. Ruan’s knowledge of Spanish is fair; that of French con-
siderably less. In view, however, of his manifest qualifications
for this position, this should not prove a handicap to his effective
cooperation with the French-speaking General Receiver and Deputy
General Receiver of Customs, who have recently been appointed.

If upon examination of this statement of Mr. Ruan's record
you concur in my opinion as to his qualifications for this position
I shall be happy to transmit to the President of Haiti your sugges-
tion of his name.

I am, my dear Mr. President,

Very sincerely yours,

Robert Lansing

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