Mr. Taylor to Mr. Gresham.

No. 301.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herein, with translation, an official copy of the law lately approved by Her Majesty the Queen Regent, [Page 1186] and published in the Gaceta de Madrid on the 6th instant, giving to the products and manufactures of the United States the benefit of the second column of the tariff now in force in the islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico.

I inclose also, with translation, a copy of a note received to-day from the minister of state, and dated the 6th instant, informing me officially of the fact that the Government of His Majesty has sent to the Governors-General of the islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico the orders necessary to put the modus vivendi lately executed between the two nations into effect.

I am, etc.,

Hannis Taylor.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 301.—Translation.]
[Extract from the Gaceta de Madrid, February 6, 1895.]

law.

Don Alfonso XIII, by the grace of God and the constitution King of Spain, and in his name and during his minority the Queen Regent of the Kingdom, to all whom these presents shall come or may concern, take notice that the Cortes have decreed and we have sanctioned the following:

Article 1. The Government is authorized to apply to the products and manufactures of the United States, which proceeding from the ports of said States may be admitted into those of Cuba and Puerto Rico, the second column of the tariff in force in those islands, in exchange for which the United States will apply its lowest tariff rates to the products of the soil and to those of the industry of Cuba and Puerto Rico.

This modus vivendi shall prevail until the execution of a definitive treaty between the two parties interested or until one of them gives notice three months in advance of the day upon which it desires to put an end to it.

Therefore, we command all tribunals, justices, chiefs, governors, and all other authorities, civil as well as military and ecclesiastical, of every class and rank, to keep and make the present law fco be kept, fulfilled, and obeyed in all its parts.


I, the Queen Regent.
Alejandro Groizard,
The Minister of State.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 301.—Translation.]

Mr. Groizard to Mr. Taylor.

Excellency: I have the satisfaction to tell you that the Gazette of to-day publishes the law which authorizes the Government of His Majesty to apply to the products and manufactures of the United States, which proceeding from the same maybe admitted into Cuba and Puerto Rico, the second column of the tariff in force in those islands, in exchange for which the United States will apply its lowest tariff rates to the products and manufactures of Guba and Puerto Rico.

In virtue of that law the Government of His Majesty has put in force the modus vivendi made between Spain and the United States of America, giving immediately by telegraph the necessary in structions to the Governors-General of Cuba and Puerto Rico, to the end that said modus vivendi may prevail until a definite treaty is celebrated between the two countries interested, or until one of them announces, after three months’ notice, the day upon which it desires to put an end to it.

I approve, etc.,

Alejandro Groizard.