Legation of the United States,
Madrid, April 13, 1895.
(Received April 29.)
No. 336.]
[Inclosure in
No.336.—Translation.]
The Duke of Tetuan to
Mr. Taylor.
Ministry of
State,
Palace, April 9,
1895.
My Dear Sir: In compliance with the offer
which I had the honor to make to you in the conference held on the
25th of March last, the instant I took possession of the ministry of
state, I gave my attention first to the study of the incident which
was the subject of your note of the 15th ultimo, that you were
pleased to direct to my predecessor.
Sufficient information is still wanting to authorize a reply as
precise and concrete as the Government of His Majesty sincerely
desires, but I am pleased to assure you at once that it is not its
purpose, and never has been, to put obstacles or obstructions of any
kind in the way of the legitimate commerce of the United States.
With this feeling and without prejudice to the exercise of the right
which belongs to us in our maritime zone, opportune instructions
have been sent to the commanders of the ships of His Majesty, first
by telegraph, and afterwards at greater length by mail.
I shall have the honor to supplement this note as soon as I shall
receive the report which has been ordered to be drawn up as rapidly
as possible at Havana for the purpose of investigating the affair
with the Alliança, and which my colleague the
minister for the colonies expects to receive very soon. The Cabinet
at Washington may be sure that if the commander of the Venadito, believing to act within his rights,
should have committed an error, His Majesty’s Government shall
regret it sincerely, and shall proceed respecting the said commander
in the form and manner which the case requires.
It is to be hoped that the Government of the United States will
appreciate the sincerity of the sentiments which animate that of His
Majesty when the nation which you so worthily represent is
concerned, and to which Spain professes the most cordial and lively
friendship.
I avail, etc.,
The Duke of Tetuan.
