No. 651.
General Sickles to Mr. Fish
[Telegram.]
Madrid, November 26,
1873.
At half-past 2 this afternoon, half an hour after I had asked for my passports, I received a note, dated to-day, from minister of state, in which he says:
- First. If it appear, on or before the 25th of December next, that the Virginius rightfully carried the American flag and that her documents were regular, Spain will declare the seizure illegal, salute the flag as requested, and return the ship with the surviving passengers and crew.
- Second. If it be proved that the authorities of Santiago de Cuba, in their proceedings and sentences pronounced against foreigners, have essentially infringed Spanish legislation or treaties, this government will arraign those authorities before competent tribunals.
- Third. Any other reclamations growing out of the affair which either of the respective governments may have to present will be considered diplomatically, and, if no agreement be reached, they will be submitted to the arbitration of a third power, named by mutual consent.
- Fourth. If the 25th day of December shall have expired without the Spanish government having resolved, in so far as comes within its province, the questions arising out of the demand for reparation, it will hold itself bound to accord such reparation the same as if the right of the United States to require it were recognized, and such reparation will be given in the form specified in the first and second paragraphs.
SICKLES.