Mr. Lee to Mr.
Rockhill.
United
States Consulate-General,
Habana, July 14,
1896.
No. 50.]
Sir: I herewith transmit copy translation of a
communication received from the father of Alfredo Laborde, the captain
of the schooner Competitor, and signed “The
families of the Competitor’s prisoners,” in which
a request is made of me to intercede with the honorable Secretary of
State that our Government may ask for the pardon of the Competitor’s prisoners.
I forward the same for such action as the honorable Secretary of State
shall deem best to take in the matter.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 50.]
The Consul-General of the
United States,
Habana:
The consul-general is requested to intercede with the honorable
Secretary of State, that he in turn may appeal to the Spanish
Government, in order to obtain the pardon of the captain and crew of
the schooner Competitor.
Should the consul-general decide to do so by cable, there would be an
opportunity by said pardon to solemnize the birthday of Her Majesty
the Queen Regent, which is celebrated the 21st of this month.
It is unquestionable that the Spanish Government must thank the
United States Government for the attitude it has observed during
this civil war, always favorable to the former, notwithstanding the
popular manifestations against it, which has been expressed by all
the organs of public opinion in the United States.
Therefore, if in the strict ground of law there are no terms wherein
to request what is hereby petitioned of the consul-general, yet on
the ground of grace and mercy there is room enough without counting
also that every occasion is fit to perform a good action.
The high illustration and intelligence of the consul-general will add
to this petition such other considerations as may give it more
strength and greater probabilities of a favorable result.
The Families of the Competitor’s
Prisoners.
