Mr. Taylor to Mr. Olney.

No. 655.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your cipher cablegram of the 1st instant as follows:

Referring my cable January 22 and yours of 28th, am constrained to say no progress apparent in any of said. Ask immediate attention to all of them.

I immediately asked an audience with the minister for foreign affairs, who received me yesterday at 5 o’clock. At its close I had the honor to send you the following cablegram in cipher:

Interview with minister for foreign affairs. Read your last cablegram and insisted upon exact answer to each demand contained in your cablegram of January 22. He said that he cabled immediately for reports in each case, which are now arriving by mail. From data in hand says charges have been made in the three cases of which you complained on that account. In every case says proceedings are going in according to law and protocol, and will do all possible to hasten them. Cuban authorities say Jose Gonzales has not claimed to be American citizen. Witnesses now being examined in case of Larrieu.

The Duke of Tetuan assured me that he was doing all in his power to comply with your wishes, and that he would be glad for me to call his attention to any failure of the Cuban officials to do their duty in these cases.

I am, etc.,

Hannis Taylor.