No. 660.
Mr. Fish to General Sickles.
When your dispatch of 5 afternoon of 26th was received, it was supposed here that you had left Madrid, inasmuch as you informed me you had then demanded your passports. I therefore gave the reply of this Government in a written memorandum to Admiral Polo, the substance of which was that it would not assent to the proposition which allowed Spain to hold the vessel and survivors while seeking evidence to justify the capture, assigning reasons therefor to him to be communicated to his government. Admiral Polo informs me this morning that his government says that negotiations are renewed in Madrid. Since then I received at 4 this afternoon your telegram of this morning announcing that you should request your passports at 3 to-day. The supposed negotiations must therefore drop at Madrid and be conducted hereafter here.