Mr. Sickles to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Madrid, August 14,
1899.
No. 52.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I have
received to-day an official communication from the minister of foreign
affairs, acquainting me with the issue of a royal decree, transmitted
through the ministry of state to the presidency of the council of
ministers, urging the necessity of directing the most pressing orders
for the immediate [Page 702] release of
all Cubans and Filipinos who may be found in the Spanish prisons, on
account of the insurrections of Cuba and the Philippines.
The president of the council of ministers has already given the necessary
instructions, and I am assured by his excellency the minister of state
that the provisions of article 6 of the treaty of Paris will within a
very few days be carried out by His Majesty’s Government.
I am also officially informed by the minister of state that the Cuban
political prisoners, Antonio Capablanca, Norberto Rojas, Julian Alvarez,
and Hafael Joya were furnished with passports to Cadiz on the 8th
instant, from which port they sailed for Cuba on the 10th instant.
I inclose a copy and accurate translation of the Spanish official
note.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Mr. Dupuy de
Lome to Mr. Sickles.
Ministry of
State,
Palace, August 11,
1899.
My Dear Sir: The notes of your legation
Nos. 26 and 30, of the 4th and 7th instants, giving the names of
some Cuban prisoners at Cartagena and Ceuta, have been duly received
by this ministry. The necessary orders have at once been given to
the proper quarters for the immediate release and transportation to
Cuba of the individuals named in the above notes, as provided by
article 6 of the treaty of Paris.
A royal order has been transmitted by this department on the 5th
instant to the ministry of the council of ministers, urging the
necessity of issuing most pressing orders for the immediate release
of all Cubans and Filipinos who may be found in Spanish prisons on
account of the insurrection of Cubans and the Phillipines. The
president of the council of ministers has already given the
necessary instructions, and in view thereof I can assure you that
the provisions of article 6 of the treaty of Paris will within very
few days be carried out by His Majesty’s Government.
The Cubans Antonio Capablanca, Norberto Rojas, Julian Alvarez, and
Rafael Joya were furnished with passports to Cadiz on the 8th
instant, from which port they must have already sailed for Cuba.
I avail myself, etc.
Per authorization:
