Mr. Choate to Mr. Hay.

No. 117.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Department’s No. 166, of the 27th ultimo, instructing me to convey to Her Majesty’s Government the thanks of the President to Her Majesty’s diplomatic and consular representatives in Spain for their friendly services rendered to the United States during the suspension of diplomatic relations with that country, and in obedience thereto I addressed a note to Lord Salisbury on the 11th instant, of which I inclose a copy herewith.

I have, etc.,

Joseph H. Choate.
[Inclosure in No. 117.]

Mr. Choate to Lord Salisbury.

My Lord: It affords me the greatest pleasure to inform your lordship that I have received the instructions of the President to express to your lordship the cordial thanks of the Government of the United States for the very friendly offices performed on its behalf by Her Majesty’s diplomatic and consular representatives in Spain during the recent war between the United States and that country; and the President desires especially to express his obligations to Sir Henry Drummond Wolff, Her Majesty’s ambassador at the Court of Madrid, for his faithful attention to the interests of the United States and of its citizens during the suspension of diplomatic relations.

At the outset of the war Her Majesty’s representatives accredited to the Spanish Government very generously undertook to look after American interests in Spain, and to transact for the United States such public business as the existence of war rendered possible and necessary.

The services so voluntarily assumed were uniformly performed in the most friendly and courteous manner, and the President and people of the United States fully appreciate their value, and cherish a grateful recollection of them. They were a happy earnest of the good will prevailing between the two countries.

I have, etc.,

Joseph H. Choate.