No. 536.
Mr. Porter to Mr.
Foster.
Department
of State,
Washington, June 6,
1885.
No. 349.]Sir: Referring to instruction No. 343 of May 28
last, I now inclose a copy of a further dispatch from Havana in the case of
the fine on the American barkentine, Charles L. Pearson.
I am, &c.,
JAS. D. PORTER,
Acting
Secretary.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 349.]
Mr. Williams to Mr.
Porter.
Consulate-General of the United States,
Havana, May 21, 1885.
No. 183.]Sir: Referring to my dispatch 174, dated the
13th instant, in relation to the fine of $500 imposed by the collector
of customs at Cienfuegos on the captain of the American barkentine,
Charles L. Pearson, for not having had the manifest of his vessel visaed in the absence of an appointed Spanish
consul by the local authorities of Sunderland, England, the port of
departure, I now beg to inclose for the Department’s information a
translated copy of the communication of the intendant-general of
finance, dated the 13th instant, received on the 18th instant, in reply
to my note to him of the 11th instant, by which you will please observe
he accepts my proposition for the captain to deposit the money with our
consul at Cienfuegos, who, in consequence will give the bond to the
collector, pending the settlement of the dispute by our minister with
the Government at Madrid.
A copy of my reply to this communication, dated the 19th instant, you
will also please find herewith.
Accordingly I have instructed the consul of the United States at
Cienfuegos, Mr. William P. Pierce, a copy of which instruction is
inclosed, to give the consular bond and to remit the amount for custody
in an approved sight draft to the order of the honorable the Secretary
of State at Washington.
I have, &c.,
RAMON O. WILLIAMS,
Consul-General.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
349.—Translation.]
Mr. Ruiz to Mr.
Williams.
Intendancy-General of Finance of the Island of
Cuba,
Havana,
May 13, 1885.
In reply to the attentive communication you have addressed me under date
of 17th April, ultimo, in relation to the fine imposed by the
custom-house of Cienfuegos on the American bark Charles L. Pearson, for
not having her manifest visaed and asking this
intendancy to declare the said penalty to be unwarranted, I have the
honor to inform you that it is impossible for me to accede to your
petition, inasmuch as the said fine has been applied in accordance with
the provisions of paragraph 1, article 121, of the ruling customs
ordinances; but, in view of the desire expressed in your note of the
11th instant, orders will be given to the custom-house at Cienfuegos to
admit the bond as you propose, and in due course the proceedings in this
case will be transmitted to His Majesty’s Government for decision, thus
complying with the wishes expressed in your note aforesaid.
God guard you many years.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 349.]
Mr. Williams to Mr.
Ruiz.
Consulate-General of the United States,
Havana, May 19, 1885.
Excellency: In acknowledging receipt of and
replying to your polite communication of the 13th instant, received
yesterday, I can but express to your excellency my satisfaction at and
appreciation of the conciliatory manner in which the general government
of the island has proceeded towards bringing about an equitable
settlement of the affair, arising from the fine of $500 imposed by the
collector of customs of Cienfuegos upon the American bark, Charles L.
Pearson, for not having had her manifest visaed
by the local authorities of Sunderland, England.
For your excellency’s information, I beg to state that, under yesterday’s
date, I have instructed the consul of the United States at Cienfuegos to
the end that, after the captain shall have deposited the amount referred
to with him, he give his bond and remit the money for custody to the
honorable the Secretary of State at Washington, until the receipt of the
final decision of the Supreme Government of Spain, after hearing the
representations of our minister at Madrid.
I have, &c.,
RAMON O. WILLIAMS,
Consul-General.
[Inclosure 4 in No. 349.]
Mr. Williams to Mr.
Pierce.
Consulate General of the United States,
Havana, May 18, 1885.
Sir: I beg to transmit herewith the copy of a
communication, dated the 13th instant, and received to-day from his
excellency the intendant-general of finance, by which you will please
observe that he would issue orders to the collector of customs at your
port to receive your consular bond to respond for the fine on the
Charles L. Pearson upon the deposit by the master with you of the $500
till the matter shall have been settled in Madrid.
Upon the receipt from the master of the $500 in Spanish gold, and after
giving your United States consular bond to the collector of the port, in
the terms accepted by his excellency the intendant-general, you will
please remit the amount for custody in an approved sight draft, with
explanatory dispatch to the honorable the Secretary of State of the
United States at Washington.
I am, &c.,
RAMON O. WILLIAMS,
Consul-General.
