No. 363.
Mr. Foster
to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Legation of
the United States,
Madrid, October 8, 1884.
(Received October 23.)
No. 273.]
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 261, of the 16th
ultimo, I have now to inclose herewith, for your further information, a copy
and translation of a note from the minister of state, dated the 2d instant,
in reply to mine of the 11th ultimo renewing the request for the return of
the so-called cattle tax collected by the Spanish consul at Key West.
As will be perceived, the minister states that new and urgent instructions
will be sent to the consul to remit without delay the necessary information
heretofore asked of him upon the subject with a view to returning the tax in
question to the interested parties.
I shall continue to give the subject my attention.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 273.
Translation.]
Mr. Elduayen to Mr.
Foster.
Ministry of State,
Madrid, October 2,
1884.
My Dear Sir: I have received the note which
your excellency was pleased to address to me on the 11th ultimo relative
to the representations made by the Government of the United States
against the system of the Spanish Government of exacting and collecting
in the ports of that country an export tax, or duty, called consular
tonnage lees. I had the honor to inform your excellency in regard to
this matter on the 12th January last that instructions had been sent to
the Spanish consul at Key West, at which port the greater part of the
said tax had been collected, to make a liquidation of the sums which
might result as having been unjustly received in order to return the
same to the interested parties. As up to date the reply of the said
consul has not been received in this ministry, and without the data
which the same will supply it is not possible to adopt any resolution.
Urgent new orders will be communicated to said agent to remit without
delay the necessary information to the effect indicated, and so soon as
it is received I will make known to your excellency the result of the
same and the corresponding disposition.
I am, &c.,
