Mr. Tassara to Mr. Seward
The undersigned, minister plenipotentiary and envoy extraordinary of her Catholic Majesty, has had the honor to receive the note of yesterday, 17th, of the honorable Acting Secretary of State, upon the possible arrival of the Stonewall at the Havana, and on the conduct which the authorities at that place would observe toward her in consequence of the President’s proclamation of the 9th instant.
According to the latest news the Stonewall had in fact arrived at Havana on the 11th instant. The undersigned nevertheless does not officially know the circumstances of her arrival; as little also he knows, except unofficially, of the President’s proclamation to which the note refers.
However the matter may be, the change which in a brief time this country has experienced is, in effect, as notorious as the honorable Secretary of State asserts, and the supreme authority of Cuba, to whose wisdom and justice such worthy tribute is rendered on this occasion, will act certainly with the like wisdom and justice, as constantly has guided it in its conduct toward the United States.
It is nevertheless equally notorious that, by reason of the rapidity of the movement of events, the official and international position of the maritime powers of Europe towards this country has not experienced nor even could experience as yet the same variation, and the honorable Secretary of State admits this explicitly in presuming that in the present case the supreme authority in Cuba will not be able to set aside the instructions which it has, until it may receive other fresh ones from her Majesty’s government.
In the situation, and whatever may be the conduct which in the circle of international principles may be observed in Cuba towards the Stonewall, the undersigned has the right to hope that the government of the United States will keep before it all the circumstances of the base, the honorable Secretary of State having cause to be well assured that the captain general of Cuba will not now falsify the favorable opinion he deserves, for the friendly disposition of which he has given proof in everything connected with the relations with this country.
The undersigned avails of this occasion to reiterate to the honorable Secretary of State the assurances of his highest consideration.
Hon. Secretary of State of the United States.