Mr. King to Mr. Hay.

Sir: On May 25 the following cablea was received and transmitted at once to the foreign office.

I have to-day received a reply to the same, a copy of which I inclose.

I have, etc.,

Hamilton King, Minister Resident.
[Inclosure.]

The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Mr. King.

Monsieur le Ministre: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 3d instant, in which you inform me that on May 20 the United States withdrew all its forces, both civil and military, from the island of Cuba, and on that date Cuba was declared independent nation under a republican form of government.

And you further inform me of the message which you received from your Government to the effect that you are instructed, at the request of the President of Cuba, to ask the Government of Siam to permit United States consular officers within its jurisdiction to use their good offices in representation of the interests of Cuba and of its citizens until Cuban consuls shall have been appointed.

In taking note of your above communication, I beg to state that there is no treaty between this country and Cuba, so that no right of extraterritoriality is granted, but His Majesty’s Government have no objection against United States consular officers using their good offices in the interests of the Cuban citizens, so far as recognized generally by the law of nations.

I avail, etc.,

Devawongse, Minister for Foreign Affairs.
  1. Printed, page 6.