No. 499.
Mr. Foster
to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Legation of
the United States,
Madrid, July 18, 1883.
(Received August 9.)
No. 35.]
Sir: Referring to Mr. Reed’s No. 123 and to your
reply No. 74, of the 19th June, 1882, I have now to inclose, herewith, for
your information, a copy and translation of a communication from Mr.
Senmarti, minister of Liberia at Madrid, dated the 9th ultimo, stating that
he has succeeded in obtaining the revocation of the order of the
governor-general of Cuba prohibiting the landing in that island of foreign
negroes, without the previous deposit of $1,000 or the consent of the
governor-general, and that now all foreign negroes are at liberty to land
and reside in Cuba on equality with other races.
I deem it proper to add that although Mr. Senmarti’s communication is dated
the 9th June, I only received it a few days ago.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure in No.
35.—Translation.]
Mr. Senmarti to Mr.
Foster.
Legation of Liberia in Spain,
Madrid, June 9,
1883.
Excellency and Colleague: I have the honor to
inform your excellency that, following the instructions of my
Government, with the object to conclude a new treaty between Liberia and
Spain, the undersigned encountered great difficulties through the
opposition shown by the superior authorities of the island of Cuba on
account of the orders of the captain-general, approved by the Government
of His Majesty the King, which prohibited the lauding and residence of
negroes or persons of color in the territory of the island without the
previous consent of the captain-general, or the deposit of 1,000 in
money.
[Page 786]
This prohibition, established in general terms, applied to citizens of
divers states which have colored persons among their people. For this
reason I believed it my duty to make the fact known to our colleagues,
their excellencies the ambassador of France and the minister of England,
as well as to the worthy predecessor of your excellency, as being the
representatives of states like Liberia, which have the greater number of
negroes among their citizens.
This negotiation, which has lasted more than two years, has been
concluded by his excellency Señor Nunez de Arce, minister of ultramar,
who has revoked the orders of his excellency the governor-general of the
island of Cuba which prohibited the landing and residence in that
Antille of negroes. Consequently, persons of this race, without
distinction, may land and freely reside in Cuba on equality with other
races.
This solution is a triumph in favor of free foreign negroes banished from
Cuban soil where their race was unable to land other than in the quality
of slaves. I am happy to inform your excellency that I have found on the
part of the Government of His Majesty the King of Spain the greatest
desire to arrive at a solution of so much importance to my
Government.
As that country, which your excellency so worthily represents, has
citizens of the colored race, I am honored in making known to you the
facts above set forth by the undoubted interest which it may offer to
your Government.
I avail, &c.,
