Mr. Taylor to Mr.
Sherman.
Legation of the United States,
San Sebastian, August 5,
1897.
No. 735.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith
copies and translations of two notes recently received from the Spanish
Government relative to the case of Manuel Fernandez Chaquielo. In this
connection, and referring to your No. 729, of the 14th ultimo, I beg to
call the Department’s attention to the fact that the only information I
have ever received regarding the murder of Govin has been that contained
in the Department’s telegrams and despatches upon the Chaquielo case;
and that, consequently, I have never been able to make a formal
presentation of that (Govin’s) case to the Spanish Government.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure in No.
735.—Translation.]
The Duke of Tetuan to
Mr. Taylor.
Ministry of State,
San
Sebastian, July 30,
1897.
Excellency: I have had the honor to receive
your courteous note of yesterday’s date, transmitting a copy of a
dispatch addressed to you by the Secretary of State of the United
States relative to the proceedings instituted in the Island of Cuba
against the naturalized American, Manuel Fernando Chaqueilo, who was
taken prisoner with arms in his hand.
[Page 525]
The documents in my possession regarding the matter do not show what
charges have been made against said individual. It only appears that
the consul general of the United States at Havana made that inquiry
of the Governor and Captain-General of the Island of Cuba under date
of October 8, 1896; and that superior authority answered him, by
letter of the 10th of the same month and year, that as the cause was
then under instruction, and this being secret, he could not reply to
his inquiry; but that, however, as soon as the cause arrived at the
plenary stage the prisoner would be informed of the charges made
against him.
In order to give you more information on the subject I have addressed
my colleague, the minister of war, who will cable for the necessary
data.
As regards the connection which may exist between the prisoner and
the supposed murder of the American citizen, Govin, I am compelled
to repeat to your excellency that I have no official information
whatever of that case, because neither your excellency nor the
minister plenipotentiary of His Majesty at Washington, nor the Cuban
authorities, have sent me any information or communication of any
kind upon the matter. Regarding this point I also request the
minister of war to ask the Captain-General of the island for
information.
As soon as I receive the reports referred to I will take great
pleasure in answering more fully to the statements made by your
excellency in your said note of yesterday.
I avail myself,
The Duke of Tetuan.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
735.—Translation.]
The Duke of Tetuan to
Mr. Taylor.
Ministry of State,
San
Sebastian, August 3,
1897.
Excellency: In addition to my note of the
30th of July last, relative to the proceedings followed in Cuba
against the naturalized American, Manuel Fernandez Chaqueilo, I have
to inform your excellency that the Captain-General of that island,
in reply to the telegraphic question made to him upon the subject,
reports that the council of war sentenced said Fernandez Chaqueilo
to life imprisonment; but the auditor-general dissented, and
proposed that a death sentence should be imposed for having belonged
to an incendiary band. In view of that, and according to the
provisions for such cases in the Code of Military Justice, the cause
shall be revised by the supreme council of war and marine, to which
it shall be sent by next mail.
I avail myself, etc.,
The Duke of Tetuan.
