Mr. Wharton to Mr.
Snowden.
Department
of State,
Washington, March 6,
1893.
No. 132.]
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No.
72 of January 30 last, inclosing a copy of a note from the Spanish minister
of state
[Page 576]
making a formal tender to
the Government of the United States of the caravel Santa
Maria.
A copy of your dispatch was at once transmitted to the Secretary of the Navy,
and I now inclose copy of his reply, dated the 2d instant, stating that it
will give that Department great pleasure to receive into its custody this
valuable and interesting reproduction of the largest caravel of Columbus at
such time and place as may be eventually decided upon for its transfer.
The President desires you to express to the Spanish minister of state his
warm appeciation of this act of international courtesy at a period of such
historical significance to both countries.
I am, etc.,
William F. Wharton,
Acting Secretary.
[Inclosure in No. 132.]
Mr. Tracy to Mr.
Wharton.
Navy
Department,
Washington, March 2,
1893.
I have the honor to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of your letter
of the 15th ultimo, inclosing copy of a dispatch recently received from
our minister at Madrid, reporting the offer made “by the Spanish
Government to present to the United States the caravel Santa Maria, and asking for such suggestions as I may desire
to make.
In reply, I have the honor to say that it will give the Navy Department
great pleasure to receive into its custody this valuable and interesting
reproduction of the largest caravel of Columbus at such time and place
as may be eventually decided upon for its transfer, and I take this
occasion to express, in the name of the Navy Department, its high sense
of the cordial disposition evinced by the Spanish Government in offering
the Santa Maria to the United States.
I have, etc.,
B. F. Tracy,
Secretary of the Navy.
