No. 385.
Mr. Curry
to Mr. Bayard.
Legation of
the United States,
Madrid, June 23, 1886.
(Received July 7.)
No. 69.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose a copy of an order
issued from the ministry of ultramar to the governors-general of Cuba and
Porto Rico, respecting the suppression of the differential flag duties and a
proposed [Page 799] equalization of
navigation dues in those islands, a translation of the same, and of a note
addressed to Señor Moret, minister of state.
The urgent instructions of the Department to use my best exertions to secure
a suppression of the “ruinous differential duty,” which practically
prohibits a vessel of the United States from carrying to Cuba productions of
another country, even when shipped from the United States, and the continued
protests of American merchants and shippers against such onerous
discriminations, justified the legation, it was thought, in cabling a
summary of the royal order.
The authoritative interpretation of the agreement of February, 1884, in
accordance with the contention of the United States and in opposition to the
past, persistent opinion of the authorities in Cuba and the Government, may
almost be regared as a new modus vivendi. * * *
The Department may indulge in some gratification at the termination of a
controversy which, in some phase, has perplexed it and annoyed our commerce
for half a century.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
69.—Translation.]
Minister of ultramar to
governors-general of Cuba and Porto
Rico.
Excellency: The Minister Plenipotentiary of the
United States of America has objected to the Government of His Majesty
in regard to the manner in which the agreement of February 13, 1884, is
executed in Cuba (that island), and alleges that the first article gives
the right to the North American flag to be placed on equal terms with
the Spanish flag in the ports of that island in regard to the collection
of dues of every kind, and complains that in that island the
differential duty is maintained in respect to foreign merchandise
transshipped in American ports, as well as of the fact that navigation
dues continue to be exacted on American different from those established
for Spanish vessels; and in view of his arguments and of the premises
that aid in the correct interpretation of the said agreement, His
Majesty the King (whom God guard), and in his name Her Majesty the Queen
Regent of the Kingdom, for the purpose of showing the good disposition
of Spain toward the United States and the good faith with which it
undertakes the accomplishment (execution) of treaties, has deigned to
order, ratifying what was established by the royal order of May 7, 1885,
that the American flag in the direct commerce with the islands of Cuba
and Porto Rico shall be in every respect placed on an equal basis with
Spain in the conduct of articles that are the products of and proceed
from the United States.
In regard to navigation dues, although the equalization of American with
Spanish vessels is not provided for in the agreement, it is the will of
Her Majesty, from deference to the wishes of said nation, that as soon
as it is shown by the representative of said States in that island that
his Government has granted this benefit to Spanish vessels, the
authorities in Cuba shall proceed to apply it to American vessels in
exact reciprocity and in harmony with what was established by royal
decree of June 4, 1868.
By royal order I communicate this to your excellency for your
information, and with a view to the results that follow therefrom. God
guard your Excellency many years.
GAMAZO.
Madrid, June 22, 1886.
The
Governors-General
of the Islands of Cuba and Porto Rico.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 69.
Mr. Curry to the
minister of state.
Legation of the United States,
Madrid, June 23,
1886.
Excellency: The official orders issued from the
ministry of ultramar, placing products of the United States and products
of foreign countries transshipped in ports of the United States, carried
to the Antilles in vessels of the United States, on an [Page 800] equal basis with such products carried in
Spanish vessels, and consenting to equalize navigation dues in the ports
of Cuba, a copy of which you did me the kindness to send in advance of
promulgation, will be received by the Government of the United States
with the liveliest satisfaction, as renewed proof of the friendly
disposition of Spain and of the desire to promote larger and more
unrestricted commercial intercourse.
In this expression of the pleasure of my Government I must not omit to
convey to you my deep sense of your courtesy and of the liberal views
which have marked your action in reference to the interpretation of the
agreement of February 13, 1884.
I take this opportunity of renewing, &c.
