Mr. Taylor to Mr. Gresham.

No. 130.]

Sir: I have the honor to report that I have just received a note from the minister of state touching the Cuban repertory, a copy of which I inclose herein with translation. As the statement that the text of the English repertory “being the one agreed upon, is the only one that can have force and bind both Governments” seemed to imply an intention upon the part of the Spanish Government to challenge the validity of the execution of the contemporaneous Spanish version, I at once asked an interview with the minister of state in order to set the matter at rest before communicating with you. I was received immediately by the minister who assured me that it was not his intention to dispute the fact that the repertory was validly executed in English and Spanish. He said that the difficulty was that the Spanish version did not correspond with the English; that the Spanish version was so loose and defective as to render any attempt to execute it very difficult if not impossible. For that reason he said that he appealed to my Government to consent to the making by experts of a new Spanish version so that a reliable criterion could be established for the settlement of all disputes, past, present, and future. I replied that as you were especially anxious for the repertory as made to be put into immediate execution, I could only telegraph the facts and ask for instructions. Thereupon I sent you the telegram. If you should conclude to enter into the making of a new Spanish version I hope you will instruct me as to whom I shall employ to represent the United States. More skill will be required, I fear, in Spanish and English, than is possessed by anyone in this legation.

I am, etc.,

Hannis Taylor.
[Inclosure in No. 130.—Translation.]

Mr. Moret to Mr. Taylor.

Excellency: With the view of adopting a fixed and invariable criterium in regard to the interpretation of the custom-house repertory formed for the application of the commercial agreement existing between [Page 604] Spain (Islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico) and the United States, not only in reference to doubtful cases or those which have been the subject of protests, but also for the purpose of avoiding them in the future, by establishing a sure and incontestable rule for the custom-houses, this ministry, in accord with that of ultramar, is going to prepare a true and complete translation of the English repertory signed in Washington on October 17, 1892, between the minister secretary of State of the United States and the representative of Spain, which text, being the one agreed upon, is the only one that can have force and bind both Governments.

The Government of His Majesty, desiring to prevent any ulterior difficulty arid counting upon the good disposition of the Government of the United States, would be glad if, for that purpose, the legation under the worthy charge of your excellency would contribute to the making of the said translation. Therefore, it has the honor to invite your excellency, in case you consider fit, to appoint for this commission one of your secretaries or attaches, who, with Messrs. Don Arturo Soria and Don José Alcala Galiano, officials of the ministries of ultramar and state, would finish this work in a short time.

Trusting that your excellency will consider this proposal with your accustomed benevolence, I avail, etc.,

S. Moret.