No. 641.
Mr. Bayard to Mr. de
Muruaga.
Washington, April 11, 1887.
Sir: I have the honor to invite your attention to a matter of detail in connection with the subject of the inconveniences of the existing passport regulations in the island of Cuba, which have heretofore been the occasion of correspondence between us.
A recent dispatch from the United States consul-general at Havana communicates to me a number of letters addressed to him by American citizens who, having entered the island without the production of a passport being required as a condition of landing, have suffered considerable delay and some expense through the exaction of a passport as a condition of being permitted to quit the island. This rule appears to be enforced even when the passenger is merely in transit and transferred from one vessel to another for the purpose of making the continuous voyage between ports of the United States and Mexico. In nearly every instance the writers state that they had made inquiry at the United States port of sailing, and had been there informed that no passport was needed by them upon landing in Cuba, and that a permit to depart could be obtained through the consul of the United States, at a trifling cost, said in several of the letters to be 30 cents. The consul-general, however, reports the charge to be 30 cents for visa of a passport, and $4.05 for the issuance of a permit of departure when the party is unprovided with a passport.
Mr. John S. Palmer, of Cleveland, Ohio, states that he was told by the Spanish consular agent at Tampa, Fla., that no passport “was required to visit Havana,” and that he “would be subjected to no extra expense on that account at Havana for permit to return to the United States” beyond a fee of 30 cents. Mr. Palmer states that this information was corroborated by the Spanish consular agent at Key West, to whom he also applied.
Mr. Z. T. Mills, of Key West, writes that he was informed by the Spanish consul at Key West that he “would not want a passport to visit Havana,” as it would only involve extra expense, and that all that was necessary was to call upon the United States consular representative there.
[Page 1030]The consul-general illustrates the very general complaint on the part of the numerous travelers who are thus subjected to delay and expense by quoting comments, to the effect that the rule imposes “an export tax on Americans,” and that it is a “mouse-trap” regulation, whereby they can get in, but hot out again.
I may be permitted to observe that I fail to see the justice of imposing restrictions and burdens upon the departure of American citizens from the island which are not imposed upon their landing, and I should be glad to hear that a more uniform and conspicuously rational rule has been adopted. May I trust that, in the interest of the large and mutually beneficial intercourse between the United States and the Antilles, you will use your good endeavors toward a change in this regard?
At any rate, as it would seem that serious inconvenience has been occasioned by erroneous information, alleged to have been given by the consular agent of Spain at Tampa and Key West, and perhaps at other ports, I beg to suggest that those officers be instructed to give precise and adequate information to intending travelers and notification to the agents of the passenger lines of steamers of the rules governing the landing and departure of American citizens visiting the island of Cuba. Accept, etc.,