Chargé Sleeper to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Habana,
Cuba, September 23,
1905.
No. 1343.]
Sir: In confirming my telegram of the 20th
instant, relative to the besmirching of the door and escutcheon of the
American consulate at Cienfuegos, I have the honor to transmit to the
Department herewith copy of my notes to the foreign office of the 20th
and 22d instant, respectively, and translations of foreign office notes
of the 20th and 21st instant, the former of which was handed me by Mr.
Hevia, director of the department of state, in person. I also inclose a
partial report from Vice and Deputy Consul Vincent P. Lombard at
Cienfuegos, and confirm on the overleaf the remaining telegrams bearing
on the matter.
The result of the investigations made by the government and Mr. Lombard’s
further report will, I trust, throw more light on the subject and will
be communicated to the Department at the earliest possible moment.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Chargé Sleeper
to the Secretary of State and
Justice.
American Legation,
Habana, September 20,
1905.
Your Excellency: It is with profound regret
that I call to your excellency’s attention the besmearing with
excrement of the escutcheon and door of the American consulate at
Cienfuegos last night.
[Page 290]
This, unfortunately, is not the first occurrence of this kind, as the
legation was forced to call the attention of the foreign office to
an act of similar nature which took place on the night of January
30, 1904. I refer you to Mr. Squiers’s personal note to Mr. Zaldo of
January 31, 1904.a
In bringing this disgraceful affair to your excellency’s notice I
respectfully and earnestly request that prompt and vigorous action
be taken toward the apprehension and punishment of the guilty party
or parties and that no effort be spared to prevent a recurrence of
such a deplorable act.
Reserving the right to make further representations regarding this
incident after consultation with my government and requesting that
your excellency advise me of the result of your investigation at the
earliest possible moment, I take the occasion to renew, etc.,
[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
The Secretary of State and
Justice to Chargé Sleeper.
Department of State and Justice,
Habana, September 20, 1905.
Mr. Chargé d’affaires: With most profound
regret I have the honor to inform your honor that, according to a
telegram received by the secretary of government from the mayor of
Cienfuegos, persons unknown last night besmirched the door and
escutcheon of the American consulate in that city.
This act, similar to that committed on January 31, 1904, shows an
unworthy and insistent intention on the part of its perpetrators to
provoke friction by these reprehensible means between the Government
of this Republic and that of your honor.
Since, however, the sentiments of sincere sympathy that exist in Cuba
for the American nation are known to the Government of the United
States, it is hoped that even so criminal an act may in no wise
weaken the bonds of close and loyal friendship which unite the two
countries.
And your honor will also permit me to say that the government most
energetically protests against such an attempt and profoundly
deplores its consummation. In addition I take pleasure in informing
you that a scrupulous and urgent investigation has been ordered in
order to procure the punishment of those who are found to be the
perpetrators.
The above had been written when I had the honor to receive your
polite note of to-day relative to the same matter. I can assure your
honor that no effort will be spared to secure the apprehension and
just punishment of the guilty parties and that every precaution will
be taken to avoid the repetition of so regret able an
occurrence.
I reiterate, etc.,
[Inclosure
3.—Translation.]
The Secretary of State and
Justice to Chargé Sleeper.
Department of State and Justice,
Habana, September 21, 1905.
Mr. Chargé d’affaires: I have the honor to
inform your honor that, having brought the occurrence of the 19th
instant at the American consulate in Cienfuegos to the knowledge of
the prosecuting attorney of the supreme court, he communicates to
me, under date of yesterday, that he has instructed the prosecuting
attorney of the court of Santa Clara by telegraph to institute and
carry through the case immediately in that city, visiting in person
the place where the occurrence took place, so that the person
culpable of so execrable an act shall be discovered and punished at
once.
I reiterate, etc.,
[Page 291]
[Inclosure 4.]
Chargé Sleeper
to the Secretary of State and
Justice.
American Legation,
Habana, September 22,
1905.
Your Excellency: I have the honor to
acknowledge receipt of your excellency’s polite notes of the 20th
and 21st instant, respectively, relative to the outrage recently
perpetrated upon the American consulate at Cienfuegos, and beg to
convey to your excellency the appreciation of my government at the
efforts now being made by the Cuban authorities to discover the
author or authors of so despicable an act.
Trusting that I may shortly be in a position to advise my government
of the discovery and apprehension of the guilty party or parties, I
take the occasion, etc.,
