Office of the Historian
[Extract.]

Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward

No. 205.]
Legation of the United States, Madrid, June 5, 1865.

Sir: * * * * * * * *

Your No. 83, concerning the withdrawal of the declaration of neutrality and belligerent rights by this government, was made the subject of a conference with the Spanish minister of state, Mr. Benavides, who answered as usual that he was desirous to take the step indicated. I have subsequently recurred also to this subject, but nothing practical has been accomplished till the knowledge of the President’s proclamation of May 10 was communicated to Mr. Benavides, as related in my No. 203 of June 2.

To-morrow will appear in the official Gazette a royal decree, signed by the Queen, at Aranjuez, yesterday, simply declaring the termination of the civil war in the United States, and annulling the royal decree of neutrality of June 17, 1861, with its declaration of belligerent and neutral rights, and all the rest which it contained.

I have said to Mr. Benavides, from the first, that I considered this the best form for terminating the objectionable state of international relations between Spain and the United States established by that decree of 1861, and I only regret not to have been able to obtain it until the President’s proclamation of May 10 has come to stimulate the action of this government.

The Gazette of to-morrow will be published in time for me to enclose the printed royal decree of the 4th instant with this despatch, which leaves in the mail of 11 o’clock a. m. to-morrow.

With the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant,

HORATIO J. PERRY.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

[Translation.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, ROYAL DECREE.

The war between the northern and southern States in the republic of the United States being terminated, and there being an end, in consequence, by the re-establishment of peace, to the circumstances which induced the provisions contained in my royal decree of June 17, 1861, referring to the neutrality of Spain in the said war, I decree what follows. Only article. My royal decree of June 17, 1861, is abrogated.

Given at Aranjuez, the fourth of June, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, under the royal rubric.

The minister of state.

ANTONIO BENAVIDES.