No. 434.
Hamilton Fish,
Secretary of State, Washington:
Minister of state pat in my hands last night a memorandum of the colonial policy of the cabinet agreed upon this week, which, he desired me to communicate to you; it is as follows:
resolutions adopted.
- First. The military government in Porto Rico shall be replaced by civil authority, an important personage to be named civil governor, the captain-general confining himself to functions purely military.
- Second. A decree shall be issued establishing in Porto Rico the municipal law of Spain, with such modifications as are indispensable, in conformity with which free town councils and officers will be chosen.
- Third. The law establishing a provincial assembly, of which you have a copy in my No. 158, shall be put in full and exact execution. Heretofore this act has remained inoperative for the lack of town officers.
- Fourth. Slavery shall be abolished in Porto Rico. To-day the question is decided in principle, and it only remains to be settled whether the emancipation shall be immediate or gradual. This will be done by means of a bill submitted to congress.
- Fifth. These reforms are the fulfillment of the pledges made by the radical party to public opinion in Spain, and will be immediately carried out in Porto Rico, where, happily, in the peaceful condition of that island, they are practicable; and in so doing the radical party gives proof of what it will do in Cuba as soon as its pacification can be obtained.
I am also authorized to state that the views expressed in your number two hundred and seventy, concerning the decree of August last, with reference to embargoed estates, are accepted without reserve by the minister of state. Instructions in this sense will at once be sent to Cuba, and to the Spanish legation in Washington. I am satisfied these guarantees are offered with sincerity, in the hope that they will be satisfactory to the President.