No. 661.
General Sickles to Mr. Fish.
Your telegram of 28th received this morning.
Note dated yesterday from minister of state, mentioned in my telegram of 9 last night, contains following statement:
“Admiral Polo, duly authorized by Mr. Fish, informs me that the United States Government would admit an accommodation on the basis of the immediate return of the Virginius and the survivors, reserving the salute of the flag to be performed if the Spanish government do not prove to the satisfaction of the United States, before the 25th of December next, that the Virginius had no right to carry the American flag.”
Minister adds that the initiative in this proposition was taken by the Spanish government, founded on assurances received from you, through Admiral Polo, that the United States were disposed to entertain any reclamations or complaints Spain might have to make for the acts of the Virginius, and, on being informed that you accepted their bases, the executive power had telegraphed the admiral yesterday afternoon confirming the arrangement. Mr. Carvajal concludes with congratulations on this happy termination of the affair.
I have to remark that, this government having been advised by the most eminent jurists of Spain and by the European powers that the reclamation of the United States was supported by public law, the negotiations would have been terminated here yesterday before 3 in the afternoon on the basis of your instructions to me if this government had not supposed that it had obtained better terms in Washington pending the negotiations in Madrid. If you are not too far committed, you have only to insist upon your original terms to obtain them.
[Page 967]It is to be regretted I was not notified of the negotiations in Washington. The English legation here is better informed by its government of what transpires in Washington on this subject than this legation.
I beg that the receipt of this telegram may be acknowledged.