Mr. Finch to Mr. Day.
Montevideo, October 24, 1898.
Hon. William R. Day,
Secretary of State, Washington.
Sir: On the 22d instant Colonel Swalm called at the legation and said, substantially, in response to mine of the 19th instant, that when the colored soldier John B. Dick applied to him (Swalm) for protection, [Page 1128] he (Swalm) took the man under his care and placed him in a boarding house, becoming security for his board.
After getting the colored man safely settled he (Swalm) called upon Vice Consul Howard and directed him to go to the Uruguayan secretary of war and say to him that Dick was undoubtedly an American citizen and unless he was released the United States Government would file a reclamation and demand damages for unlawful detention. The consul further stated that he had previously satisfied himself that Dick was an Alabama negro and that he should be immediately released.
Colonel Swalm then placed the facts and the case in my hands, with the result heretofore stated.
Colonel Swalm also further stated that he paid the colored soldier the amount due him from the Uruguayan Government, taking his receipt therefor and turning it over to the Uruguayan minister of war, at whose instance and request he acted.
Possibly I have embodied in my report of this case to the Department more phases and detail than is usually customary or necessary, but the circumstances and incidentals seem to warrant placing all the facts and phases before you for convenient reference, in the event that the matter should at any future time be the subject of further correspondence.
Respectfully,