Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Adee.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit to you herewith, under instructions from the Marquis of Salisbury, a petition addressed to the British consul at Barcelona, as representing the United States Government, by certain Cubans imprisoned in the Castle of San Fernando, Figueiras.

The petition asks for intervention with the Spanish Government for clemency, claiming that as Cubans the have become, under the terms of the peace protocol, subjects of the United States.

Her Majesty’s consul mentions that such claims to American citizenship by Cubans are constantly received.

I have, etc.,

Julian Pauncefote.
[Inclosure—Translation.]

Various Cuban prisoners to the British consul at Barcelona.

Sir: The undersigned, demanding the right of people living in civilized countries, beg to submit to you the following petition:

The peace [protocol] having been signed and hostilities suspended between the armies of Spain and the United States, the former having handed over to the latter her right of sovereignty over the island of Cuba, the inhabitants of the same become subjects (provisionally) of the latter Government (the United States of America); and as in Spain the interests and the persons of American subjects are under the protection of the British flag, it follows that Cubans during the occupation by the United States must be considered as such; we therefore appeal to the British flag to obtain protection, in the certainty of obtaining it from that powerful and generous nation.

The undersigned, in representation of the survivors of the 200 Cubans who were shut up in this castle on November 29, 1896, and of other parties of exiles, declare as follows:

That from the above-mentioned date they have been confined in an underground gallery, where the atmosphere is unhealthy and pestilential, owing to the damp and emanations from a people crowded into an unhealthy locality, filled with fleas and lice, which torment our bodies and produce germs which lead to diseases which have caused the death of a third of our original number. For one hour in the morning and one hour and a half in the afternoon we are allowed to take exercise in the moat of the fortress guarded by armed soldiers. On returning from the pure air to our quarters we find the atmosphere simply suffocating.

The food is insufficient to sustain life, although it has been somewhat improved the last few days. Formerly we suffered from actual hunger.

For all purposes we are provided with the sum of 50 centimos. We have not even a piece of soap, and suffer at the same time an isolation such that we are not allowed to speak with anybody, not even with our guards, and even the notes we send to our companions in hospital are under inspection.

But, as all reasons for this rigorous treatment, quite out of proportion to our position as exiles have now ceased to exist, and it not being likely that any indiscretion of ours can harm the Government, it is evident that the isolation and rigorous treatment we suffer should cease, as we do not intend to make any attempt to escape nor commit any illegal act whatever, and clemency is invoked by humanity.

In virtue of which we beg you, with all possible dispatch, to transmit this petition to the British ambassador in Spain, that he may obtain from the Government of Her Majesty the Queen Regent an act of pity to alleviate the misfortunes of the under [Page 1004] signed, who commence and conclude with an invocation of the right of mankind, for which favor they will be hereafter most grateful to the distinguished diplomat to whom this petition is addressed and to the gracious sovereign who can not deny the favor we in justice ask.

Pedro Martinez Faliente
et al.
(Fifteen additional signatures.)