Mr. Taylor to Mr.
Gresham.
Legation of the United States,
Madrid, February 9,
1895.
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.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
301.—Translation.]
[Extract from the Gaceta de Madrid,
February 6, 1895.]
Ministry of State
[, undated].
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.
Given in the Palace on the 4th of February,
1895.
I, the Queen Regent.
Alejandro Groizard,
The Minister of State.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
301.—Translation.]
Mr. Groizard to
Mr. Taylor.
Ministry of
State,
Palace, February 6,
1895.
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.,