Mr. Uhl to Mr. Williams.
Sir: From your dispatch, No. 2677, of the 7th instant, and from a letter, filed under date of the 13th instant from Mr. Julio Sanguily, the Department has learned the result of the trial of Mr. Sanguily in the criminal court of Cuba. From these reports of the trial there is reason to apprehend that the proceedings which terminated in Mr. Sanguily’s conviction were not in accordance with the treaty of 1795 as construed by the protocol of 1877. It is inferred from these reports that the civil court took up the case against Sanguily where the military tribunal left off, and that the trial proceeded upon the charges formulated and upon the evidence taken by the military court. It is necessary, before taking action, that the Department should be accurately and fully advised as to the manner in which the trial has been conducted with reference to the code of criminal procedure and to the provisions of the treaty and protocol. The position of this Government is outlined in a telegram to your office, date May 21, last, to which you are referred.
You are instructed to make this report with as little delay as possible, setting forth each step in the proceedings from the first arrest by the military authorities to the conviction in the civil court.
I am, etc.,
Assistant Secretary.