Mr. Muruaga to Mr. Gresham.

[Translation.]

The undersigned, minister of Spain, referring to his note of January 22 last, has the honor to notify the honorable Secretary of State that, by a cablegram of yesterday, the governor-general of the Island of Cuba [Page 613] informs him that it was only on the personal request and importunity of the authorities of Key West that he permitted the egress of the peninsular workmen.

This act of kindness and courtesy has been answered by an order of arrest and expulsion, which is to take effect to-morrow.

It seems very strange and incomprehensible that the intrigues and assertions of the revolutionary Cubans, whose chief leader. Dr. Martí, has been for several days holding conferences in this capital, should have had more weight with the Federal Government than the requests of honorable manufacturers and the almost unanimous protests of the American residents of Key West, who are interested in maintaining the freedom of labor.

The undersigned, not knowing the reasons for the said measure, requests the honorable Secretary of State to have the goodness to inform him, if possible, of the reasons which have induced the Secretary of the Treasury to adopt measures so little in harmony with the just and impartial policy pursued on recent occasions by the President of the Republic.

The undersigned avails himself, etc.,

E. de Muruaga.