Mr. Harvey to Mr. Seward.
Sir: The recent events in Spain have doubtless, been brought to your notice by the minister accredited to that court, and it is not therefore within my province to speak of them particularly, except in so far as they may have relation to this government.
A body of some five hundred Spanish soldiers, mainly of the garrison which revolted at Aranjuez, crossed the frontier and surrendered themselves to the Portugese authorities. His Majesty’s government accepted the surrender of these self constituted prisoners, and has made arrangements to distribute them at two different points, furnishing the necessary subsistence at its own cost. The Spanish minister informs me that no demand will be made for their delivery.
This military revolt in Spain has necessarily produced impression here, associated as it is, in a limited degree, with the vague idea of an Iberian union, which to a greater or less extent exercises the minds of a small class of public men in Spain and Portugal. According to my observation, this idea is not at all feasible under existing circumstances, and if pushed to a practical test by a turn of fortuitous events, such, for example, as a large and successful revolution in Spain, would almost certainly involve an intervention, and a possible collision of interests between England and France. For these and other reasons, I have never been able to believe that it deserved the importance which hasty opinion elsewhere has been inclined to ascribe to what may be called, rather, a cry, than a serious purpose of political policy.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.