No. 424.
Mr. Moran
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
Lisbon, December 22, 1877.
(Received Jan. 11, 1878.)
No. 176.]
Sir: Referring to your No. 94 and to my No. 156, I
have now the honor to forward copies of a further correspondence which I
have recently had with the Marquez d’Avila and Mr. Terry on the selection of
a new site for the American naval cemetery at the island of St. Vincent.
It will be seen by the Portaria of the 3d of December that the King has given
the necessary orders for the setting apart of the new cemetery, and the
transfer to it of the remains now deposited in the old cemetery. I have
instructed Mr. Terry to co-operate with the governor-general of the province
of Cape Verde in effecting the needful change, and I am encouraged by the
prompt action of the Marquez d’Avila in the case now to hope for the early
and satisfactory settlement of this vexed question. But I shall inform
myself from time to time of the progress made in carrying out the new order,
and should any unnecessary delay attend the execution of it, I will take
such steps to remove such delay as I may deem advisable under the
circumstances.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 176.]
Mr. Moran to the
Marquez d’Avila.
Legation of the United States,
Lisbon, November 19,
1877.
Monsieur le Ministre: Before replying to your
excellency’s letter of the 18th of June, ultimo, with reference to your
proposal for the final settlement of the question of the American
cemetery at St. Vincent, Cape Verde, I submitted that proposal to my
government and asked for definite instructions in reply thereto. These I
have now received and hasten to acquaint you with their contents.
Your excellency states that the governor-general of Cape Verde has no
hesitation in granting such land as the American Government desires for
this purpose, in another situation and with due regard to public and
private interests; that in the decent removal of the mortal remains
existing in the original cemetery, the Consul shall be kept cognizant;
and that the government of His Majesty will not fail to repeat the
orders of the 3d of June, 1873, so soon as the wishes of the United
States Government are known, viz, that a new American cemetery be marked
out in consideration of the inconvenience of restoring the present
cemetery.
I am desired, in reply, to express the gratification of my government on
learning the good intentions of your excellency in the matter, and to
say that they fully appreciate the reasons for which it is proposed to
form a new cemetery, in preference to restoring the old one in
accordance with Mr. Corvo’s promise. I am authorized to accept this
proposal of your excellency, and to instruct the consul of the United
States to co-operate with the local authorities, both in the selection
of the site and in the transfer of the remains.
My government would, however, especially suggest that the new cemetery
should he located entirely by itself, and not in contact with or near
any other cemetery. They would also express a desire that the new
location be selected and the transfer of the remains be carried out as
soon as possible.
I avail myself, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
176.—Translation.]
The Marquez d’Avila to
Mr. Moran.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Political
Department,
December 17,
1877.
In reply to the note which your excellency was pleased to address to me
on the 19th of November last, I have the honor to place in your hands,
for your own information and
[Page 738]
that of your government, the inclosed copy of a royal order of the 3d
instant, forwarded by the minister of marine and colonies to the
governor-general of the province of Cape Verde, by which it is decreed
that there be set apart in a fitting situation the ground required for
the new cemetery of American citizens in the island of Saint Tin-cent,
in conformity with the terms of the said order.
I avail myself, &c.,
MARQUEZ D’AVILA E DE BOLAMA.
[Inclosure 3 in No.
176.—Translation.]
Portaria respecting the cemetery.
Office
of the Secretary of State
For the Marine and
Colonies,
December 3,
1877,
The chargé d’affaires of the United States of America at this court
having pressed for; a settlement of the question concerning a cemetery
for citizens of his nation in the island of Saint Vincent de Cape Verde,
and information being given by an official letter from the ministry of
foreign affairs, of the 20th of November last, that the said diplomatist
accepts, by order of his government, the offer made to him of the
concession of another site for the construction of a new cemetery,
instead of the restoration of the old—
His Majesty the King thinks fit to decree, with reference to the order
issued from this ministry on the 3d July, 1873, that there be set apart,
in an appropriate place for a new cemetery for American citizens, in the
said island of Saint Vincent, the requisite site, saving public and
private interests; every proceeding in all this matter being done in
accord with the respective consul of the United States and with the
local authorities; and that, with the least possible delay, there be
carried out the removal to the said cemetery of the bones found in the
old cemetery; all due formalities being observed in this matter.
All of which His said august Majesty orders to be communicated, through
the ministry of marine and colonies, to the governor-general of the
province of Cape Verde for due action therein.
Palace,
December 3,
1877,
JOSÉ DE MELLO
GOUVELA.
Countersigned:
Francisco J. da C.
Silva.
Countersigned: Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, December 17, 1877,
Emilio
Achille Monteverde.
[Inclosure 4 in No. 176.]
Mr. Moran to the
Marquez d’Avila.
Legation of the United States,
Lisbon, December 21,
1877.
Monsieur le Minister: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of the note which your excellency addressed to
me on the 17th instant, inclosing for my information and that of my
government, a copy of a royal order of the 3d instant, forwarded by the
minister of marine to the governor-general of the province to Cape
Verde, by which it is decreed that there be set apart, in a fitting
situation, the ground required for a new cemetery of American citizens
in the island of Saint Vincent, and the transfer thereto of the remains
contained in the old cemetery.
I shall at once communicate a copy of this order to Mr. Terry, the United
States consul at Santiago, and instruct him to co-operate with the
governor-general of Cape Verde in carrying out its requirements; and I
shall also forward copies of your excellency’s note, and of the portaria
in question, to my government, which is very anxiois that the cemetery
may be established as early as possible.
I avail myself, &c.,
[Inclosure 5 in No. 176.]
Mr. Moran to Mr.
Terry.
Legation of the United States,
Lisbon, November 19,
1877.
Sir: I have now the honor to inform you that
his excellency the Marquez d’Avila e de Bolama addressed a note to me on
the 18th of June last, in reference to the naval cemetery at Porto
Grande.
[Page 739]
His excellency informs me that the Governor-general of Cape Verde will
readily grant such land as the United. States Government may require for
a cemetery in another situation than the present, so that it he without
prejudice to public or private interests; and that in the selection of
the site and in the removal of the mortal remains from the original
cemetery nothing shall be done without your cognizance.
The marquez proposes this as preferable to the restoration of the
original cemetery as offered by Mr. Corvo.
The United States Government assents to the marquez’s reasons, and
accepts this offer, but adds that it is desirable that the site selected
should be separate from, and at a distance from, any other cemetery.
This proviso I have mentioned to the marquez, and before I receive his
reply I think it right to inform you of what is passing, that you may
sound the local authorities on the matter, should occasion arise, and
perhaps be able to suggest such a site as may be agreeable with the
views of our government, and may be granted by the Governor-general.
You will, however, take no decisive action until you again hear from
me.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 6 in No. 176.]
Mr. Moran to Mr.
Terry.
Legation of the United States,
Lisbon, December 21,
1877.
Sir: Referring to my note of the 19th November
ultimo, I have now the honor to forward herewith a copy of a royal
portaria, dated the 3d and 17th instant, by which it will be seen that
the governor-general of the Cape Verde Islands has been finally
instructed to provide a new American cemetery at Porto Grande, Saint
Vincent. You will please consult with his excellency as to the selection
of a new site, removal of the remains, and restoration of monuments as
far as possible, and inform me from time to time what progress has been
made in carrying out the instructions of His Most. Faithful Majesty’s
Government in the case.
You will also take such steps as you may deem necessary to effect the
early completion of the new cemetery and the transfer of the remains,
bearing in mind my former instructions that it should be separate and at
a distance from any other cemetery.
I have, &c.,
