Mr. Tassara to Mr. Seward
The undersigned, minister plenipotentiary of her Catholic Majesty, has had the honor to receive the note of the 5th from the honorable Secretary of State ad interim, with copy of a communication of the 4th from the honorable Secretary of the Havy, announcing that about the 20th of this month a United States steamer will proceed to Havana to take charge of the Stonewall, and inquiring from the undersigned “whether the Harriet Lane, a vessel belonging to this government, which the rebels had taken and kept in their power, or any other property until very lately in possession of the rebel government, which might happen to be in the waters of Cuba, will be delivered at the same time to the United States.”
[Page 577]As for the Stonewall, considering the satisfactory correspondence which has passed on the subject, and the points agreed upon between the two governments, the commissioner of the United States has nothing to do but to present himself at the Havana, and the Stonewall will be delivered to him by the authorities.
However, as to what affects the Harriet Lane, or any other vessel or property of like origin, which through any event may now be found in the waters of Cuba, the undersigned not only cannot answer that it may also be delivered, but that, such as the case appears, he does not comprehend what kind of jurisdiction the authorities of Cuba could have to do thus. Whatever may be the origin of said vessel or property, and whatever the understanding under which they are in the waters of Cuba, the questions which may now be raised about them must belong to the jurisdiction of the courts. To them the government of the United States can have recourse, assured that in those of Cuba justice will be done.
The undersigned regrets the more that he cannot give other answers, because the more manifest has been the good will of the Spanish government in the affair of the Stonewall, in renouncing at once every question, and thus giving a proof of its friendship for that of the United States.
What is allowed to the undersigned to do is to remit the matter to the captain general of Cuba, that he may examine the important points, reserving, in the last case, any solution to her Majesty’s government.
The undersigned avails of this occasion to reiterate to the honorable Secretary of State of the United States the assurances of his highest consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States, &c., &c., &c.,