Mr. Squiers to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Habana, August 22,
1902.
No. 149.]
Sir: Transmitting here with the correspondence
between this legation, the judge of the court of first instance, and the
foreign office, regarding a request to the first secretary, Mr. Sleeper,
that he appear in said court to give his testimony in a certain case, I
have the honor to say that I understand my action is in accordance with
diplomatic usage in such cases and with the views of the State
Department as set forth in Mr. Adee’s telegram to Mr. Iddings, August 1,
1901 (p. 302, Foreign Relations,
1901), and to be, etc.,
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
Judge of first
instance to secretary of United
States legation.
In the case instituted in this court on account of theft of a clock,
I have ordered that you be addressed, which I have the honor now to
do, requesting that you have the kindness to appear in this court
between 1 and 3 p.m. to testify.
Very respectfully,
Criminal Judge of the Eastern
District.
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Squiers to
Mr. Montes, acting secretary of
state and justice.
Legation of the United States,
Habana, August 12, 1902.
Your Excellency: The first secretary of
this legation is in receipt of a communication from the judge of the
first instance, requesting him to appear at court to give testimony
in a case of robbery which recently occurred at the legation.
While I have no objection to having the first secretary give
testimony on terms consistent with representative dignity, I must
nevertheless inform your excellency that unless interrogatory in
open court is absolutely indispensable, I much prefer personal
deposition at the legation.
Trusting that this course may meet with the approval of the
Government of your excellency, I improve the occasion, etc.,
[Inclosure
3.—Translation.]
Mr. Monies to
Mr. Squiers.
Department of State,
Habana, August 16,
1902.
Excellency: In reply to your polite note of
the 12th of the month, I take pleasure in informing you that there
is no objection to having the first secretary give his testimony in
the legation, to which end the necessary orders will be given to the
judge of the first instance to name a day and hour on which to visit
the legation and take the aforesaid testimony, previous notice
having been given through this department to the first
secretary.
I improve, etc.,
