Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 7, 1896, and the Annual Report of the Secretary of State

Mr. Olney to Mr. Dupuy de Lôme.

Department of State,
Washington, February 26, 1896.

No. 89.]

Sir: Herewith inclosed please find copy of letter of E. Atkins & Co., together with copies of the inclosures in said letter referred to.

I take this occasion, etc.,

Richard Olney.

[Inclosure in No. 89.]

Messrs. Atkins & Co. to Mr. Olney.

Boston, Mass., February 25, 1896.

Dear Sir: We hand you herewith copy of a circular letter sent to our place (Soledad) by the secretary of the treasury of the so-called Cuban Republic, which communication we submit for your information.

Our general manager declined to make the payment, and notified the Spanish authorities of the matter.

The letter does not state where the treasury of the Republic is located, and the payment of the tax only exempts the buildings and machinery from destruction providing that no attempt is made to operate the mills.

Yours, respectfully,

E. Atkins & Co.

[Subinclosure 1.—Translation.]

Republic of Cuba.

As the collection of the annual taxes on sugar estates is now in process and your property called “Soledad” is valued at one million dollars, your portions are 2 on the value or, say, twenty thousand dollars gold without prorogation (extension) in 15 days from date.

By the payment of the above amount the Government of the Republic of Cuba is bound to respect the bateyes (factories) of the estates, their buildings and machinery—that is, provided that the owners of the estates do not try to grind, as the making of the crop is forbidden.

Herewith I inclose a printed circular of the treasurer of the exchequer so you may take note of its contents.

February 13, 1896.

Julian A. Dominguez,
Secretary of the Treasury.

[Subinclosure 2.—Translation.]

Office of the Treasurer of Exchequer. [undated].

To the Owners of Estates, Republic of Cuba:

Using the faculties conferred to me by the secretary of the exchequer, I hereby notify the owners of estates that the only persons authorized to collect the taxes are those designated by the Government, who should make themselves known by showing their nomination papers, issued by the secretary of the treasury or by the representative of the States of Las Villas.

Please take note of above for your guidance.

Ernesto Fouts y Sterling,
The Secretary.