No. 361.
General Sickles to Mr. Fish.

No. 505.

Sir: I have the honor to forward herewith a translation of a report, taken from the official Gazette, of Mr. Cisa’s interpellation respecting the sale of slaves held in Cuba by the Spanish authorities. The reply of -the minister of the colonies is substantially the same as that made by him in the senate to a similar inquiry reported in my No. 501.

I am, &c.,

D. E. SICKLES.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Further interpellation of Mr. Cisa respecting the reported sale of embargoed slave property in Cuba, and reply of the colonial minister. Chamber of deputies, December 12, 1872.

(Extract.)

Mr. Cisa. Four days ago I addressed an inquiry to the government, and now that the colonial minister is on hand, I desire to repeat it. I have read in the Correspondent that an order has been issued for the sale of the negroes which have belonged to the insurgents.

Moreover, in the same journal it is stated that the first mail-steamer will carry out to the colonies an order authorizing the embargoed estates commission to proceed to sell such personal property as may be liable to damage. I wish to know if this order is a fact, and by virtue of what law this personal property is sold?

The Colonial Minister. The Cuban debt commission proposed to the intendente the sale of slaves not employed on plantations belonging to embargoed estates, and also of perishable personal property. By telegraph authorization to sell the slaves was denied, and to-morrow’s mail will take out an order for the sale of personal property liable to damage. This is all I can say to the honorable gentleman.

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