Mr. Lee to Mr.
Rockhill.
United
States Consulate-General,
Habana
,
September 18,
1896
.
Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith the
translation of an official communication from the Spanish government on
this island embodying a report as to the fate of Mr. Charles Govin, an
American citizen, from an officer of the Spanish army to Captain-General
Weyler, who in turn reported it to Governor-General Weyler. The name of
the officer making the report is not given nor the place where Govin is
said to have died in consequence of wounds.
It will be observed that this is a communication in reply to one from me
to General Weyler dated the 29th of August, a copy of which has been
duly forwarded to the Department. In that communication I had the honor
to say that the account of Govin’s death was not satisfactory and did
not conform to the information in my possession. It will be seen that
the inclosed report of the Captain-General to the Governor-General is a
reiteration of his former communication.
* * * * * * *
I respectfully submit this matter to the consideration of the
Department.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure in No.
138.—Translation.]
Governor-General of
Cuba to Mr. Lee.
General Government of the Island of Cuba,
Office of
the Secretary-General,
Habana
,
September 15,
1896
.
To the Consul-General of the
United States, Present.
Sir: His Excellency the Captain-General
reported yesterday to the Governor-General as follows:
Excellency: His excellency the
general in command of the third brigade of the second
division of the third corps of the army of this island,
under date of the 25th ultimo, reports to me as follows:
“Excellency: In answer to the two
respectable communications of your excellency of the 23d
instant, relative to the information requested by the
consul-general of the United States regarding the American
citizen Mr. Charles Govin, I have the honor to inform your
excellency that the said person was made a prisoner after
having been seriously wounded in the engagement on the 9th
of July which took place in the mountains of San Martin, and
that he died in consequence of his wounds on the following
day upon being taken to this place, as I had the honor to
inform your excellency in the report of said engagement
dated July 11, No. 197, in the list of prisoners made that
day, and consequently the private information furnished to
said consul is without foundation, or perhaps it has been
maliciously furnished by persons disaffected to the good
name of the Spanish army.”
By order of his excellency, I transmit to you the above in answer to
your communication of the 29th ultimo relative to the matter.
God guard you many years.
