Office of the Historian

Mr. Cambon to Mr. Day.

[Translation.]
Embassy of the French Republic,
Washington, August 20, 1898.

Mr. Secretary of State: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication, under date of the 17th of this month, in which you inform me, in response to the inquiries contained in my note of the 15th, that—

  • First. The Federal Government will oppose no obstacle to the reestablishment of the royal mail postal service between Spain, Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines.
  • Second. That it will permit Spanish merchants to transport, under the Spanish flag, provisions destined for Cuba and the Philippines, but that the importation into Porto Rico of provisions from the United States will be reserved to American vessels.
  • Third. That the Spanish reservoir ship Cadagna, freighted by French merchants, may proceed to Philadelphia and there receive on board a cargo of distilled petroleum for industrial purposes, on the condition that this cargo is not taken to Porto Rico.

You add that, the suspension of hostilities allowing a state of war to subsist between the two countries, the above concessions are granted with the following reservations:

  • First. During the present period access to Spainish ports shall not be denied to American vessels.
  • Second. Should hostilities be resumed, American vessels shall enjoy the immunities accorded to Spanish vessels by articles 4 and 5 of the President’s proclamation of April 26 last.

I have hastened to communicate the foregoing information to the Spanish Government.

Be pleased to accept, etc.,

Jules Cambon.