Mr. Valera to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Washington, January 8, 1885. (Received January 9.)
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of His Majesty the King of Spain, has the honor to inform the honorable Secretary of State of the United States that, according to advices received both from the consulate in New York and from that at Key West, a lottery has been established in the latter city, the object of which is the collection of funds to fit out piratical expeditions to the island of Cuba.
As lotteries are prohibited in most of the States of the North American Union, and in view of the reprehensible purpose of those persons, [Page 768] i.e., to disturb the peace and order in a province belonging to a friendly nation, the undersigned trusts that the honorable Secretary of State will, so far as the laws of this Republic enable him to do so, prevent the Cuban filibusters from carrying out their design.
The undersigned, thanking the Hon. Frederick T. Frelinghuysen in advance for the interest which he will doubtless take in this matter, gladly avails himself, &c.,