Office of the Historian

The Duke de Arcos to Mr. Hay.

[Translation.]
Legation of Spain,
Washington, September 17, 1901.

Mr. Secretary: I have learned with deep sorrow the contents of your excellency’s note of the 14th instant in which you are kind enough to inform me of the death of William McKinley, the President of the United States. Since the day that the vile attack of an assassin endangered the life of the President the Spanish nation and Government have followed with the liveliest interest the different phases of the condition of the illustrious patient. And now that the fatal end has come they sympathize with the American people in the infinite grief of so great a loss.

I have a special mission from Her Majesty the Queen Regent and Her Government to so inform your excellency.

I have notified my Government of the succession of Mr. Theodore Roosevelt as President of the United States.

I avail myself of this occasion, etc.,

Arcos.