Mr. Choate to Mr.
Hay.
American Embassy,
London, July 12,
1899.
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.,
[Inclosure in No. 117.]
Mr. Choate to
Lord Salisbury.
American Embassy,
London, July 11,
1899.
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.,
