Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.
My Lord: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your lordship’s note of the 9th instant, in which, in behalf of her Majesty’s government, you present a claim for reparation of damages and injuries to persons who, as you inform me, are British owners and British subjects, in the destruction of the steamer Blanche, as is represented, by a United States war steamer in the waters of Cuba. I have to regret that, through some accidental cause not yet disclosed, this government has received no reports or other information from its own agents of the material facts belonging to the case which you have thus presented. It has, however, adopted very direct and special means to obtain that information without further delay.
In the mean time I may properly inform your lordship that her Catholic Majesty’s government has heretofore addressed a claim to this government for redress and reparation in the same case, upon the assumption that a violation of the law of nations and sovereignty of Spain was committed by the United States vessel on that occasion, which claim involves a claim for redress to all the parties as British subjects in whose behalf you have now addressed me. For the greater satisfaction of your government upon the subject, I take the liberty to give you a copy of that Spanish claim, together with copies of the several notes relating to the affair, which I have had the honor to address to the minister from Spain. You will learn from those papers that the President has engaged that the claims of Spain shall be fully investigated, and that if they shall be found to sustain the representations she has made, they will be promptly and fully redressed. I have no hesitation in saying to your lordship that this engagement was intended to cover the claims of British owners and others if, upon the investigation which has been instituted, the representations in that respect heretofore made by the Spanish government, and now made by yourself, shall be sustained. I have as little hesitation in making, on behalf of the President, the same engagement to yourself in regard to the latter claims.
You will please inform me, at your convenience, whether, in regard to the British claims, it is the desire of your government that any discussion which may become necessary shall be conducted with yourself directly, or whether it shall be conducted, as heretofore, with the minister from Spain. The United States are not less desirous than Great Britain that the whole case shall be adjusted according to the settled principles of international law and the comity of nations.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to your lordship the assurance of my high consideration.
Right Hon. Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.