Mr. Woodford to Mr.
Sherman.
Legation of the United States,
Madrid, November 6,
1897.
No. 60.]
Sir: On November 1 instant, in my dispatch No.
56, I inclosed to you copy of my note to Spanish minister of foreign
affairs, acknowledging receipt on October 25 of his answer, dated
October 23, to my note to the Duke de Tetuan of September 23 ultimo.
On November 5 instant I received from the Spanish minister of foreign
affairs his acknowledgment, dated November 3 instant, of my said
reply.
He inclosed to me copy of the Spanish newspaper El Correo, dated June 24,
1897, containing the manifesto of the Liberals, to which reference was
made in the Spanish answer of October 23, and which I have already
inclosed to you in duplicate in my dispatch No. 53 of October 30
ultimo.
He stated that the chief of the Liberal party maintains his promises and
agreements, and that this manifesto now acquires an official character
as the programme of the present cabinet; and added that he delays all
rejoinder to my note of acknowledgment until the receipt of the full
reply which I promised in such acknowledgment. I inclose copy of my
translation of such note from the Spanish minister of November 3, and
have the honor to be,
Very respectfully, yours,
[Page 596]
[Inclosure—Translation.]
Ministry of
State,
Palace, November 3,
1897.
Excellency: Replying to the courteous note,
dated the 30th of October ultimo, by which your excellency has been
pleased to acknowledge the receipt of that which I had the honor to
send you on the 23d of the same month, I take pleasure in inclosing
a copy of one of the newspapers in which was published the manifesto
addressed to the nation on the 24th of June of the current year by
the president of the council of ministers, who was then and is now
chief of the Liberal monarchical party.
To proceed in everything with the necessary clearness (i. e., to
prevent any possible misunderstanding) I must explicitly state that,
the said writing being the programme which a party then out of power
formulated and addressed to the nation upon the most important
questions, the printed document or manifesto which I inclose did not
have at the time of its publication an official character, its true
character being that of an authentic declaration of the opinions of
a militant political group, signed by its acknowledged (or
recognized) chief.
The latter having been raised to power by the confidence of Her
Majesty the Queen Regent, and maintaining, as he does, his promises
and agreements, that manifesto now acquires, with regard to the
policy of Spain, and very especially to the colonial policy, a
certain official character as the program of the present cabinet,
which with all sincerity I pointed out in the note of the 23d of
October ultimo.
As regards the latter and its text, the statement which your
excellency is pleased to make that you await, before replying to it,
new instructions from your Government induces me to delay all
rejoinder until the receipt of the promised reply, postponing until
it is known and until the United States, through the authorized
channel of your excellency, shall have determined and explained its
friendly desire to cooperate in the advanced work of pacification of
Cuba; my purpose to consider, also, as may be due, the brief
statement which your excellency opposes at this time to the
well-grounded and extensive considerations employed in the note of
October 23 to lament (the existence of) filibustering expeditions,
to suggest the legal means to prevent them, and to demonstrate the
great influence which their final suppression would have in
obtaining the peace desired by all.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to your excellency the
assurances of my most distinguished consideration.
The Minister Plenipotentiary of the United
States.
