Mr. Hale to Mr.
Seward.
No. 122.]
Legation of the United States,
Madrid,
January 20, 1868.
Sir: Your dispatch No. 96, dated December 30,
1867, was received in this legation on Friday the 17th instant, and I
was somewhat embarrassed by the fact that on the same day there appeared
in the official Gazette [Page 5] of Madrid
a royal order of the 14th instant, materially altering the quarantine
regulations of the Spanish government so far as relates to all the
sea-coast of the United States from Charleston east, but leaving New
Orleans and the Gulf ports still subject to the same interdict as
before.
Under these circumstances, I have not for the present formally
communicated the substance of your instructions to the Spanish minister
of foreign affairs, but have unofficially given him notice that I had
received instructions from you on the subject, which I had not for the
present communicated to him, in the hope that as the Spanish government
had shown a disposition to modify and relax the very stringent
regulations heretofore enforced, they might be induced, in view of the
statements of your said dispatch in regard to the disappearance of the
yellow fever at New Orleans, be induced still further to modify or
repeal the restrictions as to vessels coming from New Orleans and the
Gulf ports generally.
With this view I have addressed to him a note, of which I herewith
inclose you a copy, deeming it prudent to wait a few days after the
Spanish government shall have received my communication to see if they
are disposed to make still further modifications in their quarantine
regulations complained of.
With sentiments of the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
P. S.—Please find inclosed part of the Gazette referred to,
containing the royal order of the 14th instant.
J. P. H.
[Untitled]
Legation of the United
States,
Madrid,
January 19, 1883.
Sir: I have received from my government an
instruction dated the 30th December, relative to the sanitary
regulations injurious to the commerce of the United States, which
the government of Spain has thought it necessary to enforce in spite
of the observations heretofore addressed to your excellency on this
subject.
But these instructions reach me at the same time with the official
Gazette of the 17th. instant, which contains a royal order of the
14th instant greatly modifying the regulations heretofore
enforced.
I notice, however, that these are maintained as regards New Orleans
and other ports of the United States on the Gulf of Mexico.
The instruction from Washington before referred to contains the
information that at New Orleans (and the statement may reasonably be
regarded as covering all the Gulf ports of the United States) the
epidemic disease which has been prevalent through the summer had
ceased as usual with the first frost.
I therefore earnestly request your excellency to give this
intelligence its full weight and effect, and cause the exception
still maintained in the royal order of the 14th instant to the
prejudice of vessels proceeding from the Gulf ports of the United
States to be removed.
In view of such hoped-for action on the part of her Majesty’s
government in entire conformity with the spirit manifested in the
said royal order of the 14th instant, I will again refer this
question to Mr. Seward, suspending the execution of the instruction
written by him in ignorance of the recent action of her Majesty’s
government, and trusting that I may speedily be able to communicate
to him the additional relief now solicited.
I avail myself of this occasion to renew to your excellency the
assurance of my most distinguished consideration.
JOHN P. HALE.
His Excellency the
Minister of State
of her Catholic
Majesty.
