No. 572.
Mr. Cushing to Mr. Fish.
Fish, Secretary of State, Washington:
In private note dated yesterday, minister of state, after complaining of unfairness and ill effects of article on Virginius question in the newspapers, says, in substance, that the Spanish government is disposed to concede to the United States indemnification in every respect similar in signification and limits to that granted to England, providing that stipulation be made, as has been done with England, respecting the character of this resolution, and that beforehand shall be determined the several points which, in the affair of the Virginius, establish for Spain, with respect to the United States, different rights from those which exist in this matter with regard to England, being such rights as are clearly derivable from the acts and declarations of the United States. Spain will abide in all events by all the stipulations in protocol, and, in the improbable event of not reaching a direct accommodation, will have recourse to the arbitration stipulated therein.
I telegraph, literally, the material parts of the note, which contains strong expressions of solicitude and purpose of Spanish government to establish most friendly relations with President Grant.