Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Day. BRITISH EMBASSY, New London, Conn., August 5, 1898. SIR: With reference to previous correspondence regarding the distribution of relief through Her Majesty's acting consul-general at Habana among United States citizens in that city, I have the honor to inform you that I am in receipt of a telegram from Mr. Jerome stating that of 107 American families which have applied to him 34 have received relief; in 4 cases the relief has been refused, and the remaining 69 cases are still under consideration. I have, etc., JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. No. 1129.] Mr. Day to Sir Julian Pauncefote. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 10, 1898. EXCELLENCY: Referring to your communication of the 21st ultimo, relative to the telegram received by you from Her Majesty's acting consul-general at Habana, in relation to the application of American citizens to him for relief and with regard to the subsequent correspondence on the subject, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 5th instant, in which you advise me of the further action of Her Majesty's acting consul-general in regard to the matter in question. In view of your report, I would be pleased to have you convey to Mr. Jerome an expression of the Department's high appreciation of his continued efficient and conscientious execution of its request. I have, etc., WILLIAM R. DAY. REPORT THAT BRITISH CRUISER BROUGHT SPANISH OFFICIALS FROM HABANA. Mr. Day to Sir Julian Pauncefote. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, DEAR SIR JULIAN: The Department is in receipt of information that the British cruiser Talbot has, on two recent occasions, brought away Spanish officials from Habana. It is stated that on the first occasion she brought one Mendez, the official press censor, and on the second Raphael Cassares, captain of volunteers and secretary to Señor Congosto. It is said that Cassares was at the time on a special mission. It is possible that the reports before me may not be entirely correct, and that, so far as they may have foundation, they may be susceptible of a ready explanation. It has seemed to me that I ought to bring them to your attention, instead of allowing them to remain unanswered on the files of the Department. WILLIAM R. DAY. Believe me, etc., Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Day. BRITISH EMBASSY, New London, Conn., July 22, 1898. DEAR MR. SECRETARY: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st instant calling my attention to the report that Spanish officials have, on two recent occasions, been brought away from Habana on board H. M. S. Talbot. I have asked Her Majesty's consul-general at Habana by cable for a report on the case, and shall not fail to apprise you of such information as I may receive. I am, etc., JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Day. BRITISH EMBASSY, New London, Conn., July 26, 1898. DEAR MR. SECRETARY: In reply to your letter of the 21st instant informing me of the report which had reached your Department concerning the recent departure of Spanish officials from Habana, I hasten to apprise you that Her Majesty's acting consul-general at Habana has assured me positively by telegraph that no Spanish officials have left on board H. M. S. Talbot. As far as regards the two persons named in your letter Mr. Jerome is unable to give any information, but probably Sir Alexander Gollan, who has now left the island, may be able to explain the matter. I should be glad to know whether you would desire that Sir A. Gollan be called upon for a report of the circumstance. I am, etc., JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. Mr. Moore to Sir Julian Pauncefote. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, DEAR SIR JULIAN: I am in receipt of your communication of the 26th instant, touching the reported recent departure of Spanish officials from Habana on H. M. S. Talbot, referred to in my letter of July 21st. I thank you for the inquiry that you instituted in the matter and am gratified that it has resulted, as I expected it would, in the positive assurance of Her Majesty's acting consul-general at Habana that no Spanish officials have left there on board the Talbot. This assurance is quite sufficient, and it is not desired that you should make any further inquiry on the subject. Very truly, yours, J. B. MOORE. RED CROSS FUND.-CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICANS IN ENGLAND. Mr. Hay to Mr. Day. AMERICAN EMBASSY, No. 483.] London, August 5, 1898. SIR: I have the honor to transmit my check for $1,100, being the amount of the contributions of a few Americans and friends of American residents in this country to the funds of the Red Cross Society of America, for the relief of the sick and wounded of the present war. I beg you will have the kindness to give this check the proper destination. I am, etc., JOHN HAY. COURTESIES TO UNITED STATES VESSELS AT HONGKONG. No. 816.] Mr. Day to Mr. Hay. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 25, 1898. SIR: I append on the overleaf translation of the Department's cipher telegram of the 22d, and of yours in reply of the 23d instant, regarding permission for Admiral Dewey to dock, clean, and paint the bottoms of the vessels under his command at Hongkong. Respectfully, yours, [Inclosure 1-Telegram.] WILLIAM R. DAY. Mr. Day to Mr. Hay. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 22, 1898. Ascertain whether Admiral Dewey may dock, clean, and paint bottoms of vessels under his command at Hongkong. These operations could not under present circumstances be considered as connected with actual hostilities, but are in the nature of repairs affecting the preservation of vessels. CUBANS IMPRISONED IN SPAIN. Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Adee. BRITISH EMBASSY, New London, Conn., September 19, 1898. SIR: I have the honor to transmit to you herewith, under instructions from the Marquis of Salisbury, a petition addressed to the British consul at Barcelona, as representing the United States Government, by certain Cubans imprisoned in the Castle of San Fernando, Figueiras. The petition asks for intervention with the Spanish Government for clemency, claiming that as Cubans they have become, under the terms of the peace protocol, subjects of the United States. Her Majesty's consul mentions that such claims to American citizenship by Cubans are constantly received. I have, etc., JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. [Inclosure-Translation.] Various Cuban prisoners to the British consul at Barcelona. CASTLE OF SAN FERNANDO, SIR: The undersigned, demanding the right of people living in civilized countries, beg to submit to you the following petition: The peace [protocol] having been signed and hostilities suspended between the armies of Spain and the United States, the former having handed over to the latter her right of sovereignty over the island of Cuba, the inhabitants of the same become subjects (provisionally) of the latter Government (the United States of America); and as in Spain the interests and the persons of American subjects are under the protection of the British flag, it follows that Cubans during the occupation by the United States must be considered as such; we therefore appeal to the British flag to obtain protection, in the certainty of obtaining it from that powerful and generous nation. The undersigned, in representation of the survivors of the 200 Cubans who were shut up in this castle on November 29, 1896, and of other parties of exiles, declare as follows: That from the above-mentioned date they have been confined in an underground gallery, where the atmosphere is unhealthy and pestilential, owing to the damp and emanations from a people crowded into an unhealthy locality, filled with fleas and lice, which torment our bodies and produce germs which lead to diseases which have caused the death of a third of our original number. For one hour in the morning and one hour and a half in the afternoon we are allowed to take exercise in the moat of the fortress guarded by armed soldiers. On returning from the pure air to our quarters we find the atmosphere simply suffocating. The food is insufficient to sustain life, although it has been somewhat improved the last few days. Formerly we suffered from actual hunger. For all purposes we are provided with the sum of 50 centimos. We have not even a piece of soap, and suffer at the same time an isolation such that we are not allowed to speak with anybody, not even with our guards, and even the notes we send to our companions in hospital are under inspection. But, as all reasons for this rigorous treatment, quite out of proportion to our position as exiles have now ceased to exist, and it not being likely that any indiscretion of ours can harm the Government, it is evident that the isolation and rigorous treatment we suffer should cease, as we do not intend to make any attempt to escape nor commit any illegal act whatever, and clemency is invoked by humanity. In virtue of which we beg you, with all possible dispatch, to transmit this petition to the British ambassador in Spain, that he may obtain from the Government of Her Majesty the Queen Regent an act of pity to alleviate the misfortunes of the under signed, who commence and conclude with an invocation of the right of mankind, for which favor they will be hereafter most grateful to the distinguished diplomat to whom this petition is addressed and to the gracious sovereign who can not deny the favor we in justice ask. PEDRO MARTINEZ FALIENTE ET AL. (Fifteen additional signatures.) No. 1197.] Mr. Adee to Sir Julian Pauncefote. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 23, 1898. EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency's note of the 19th instant, inclosing a translation of a petition addressed to the British consul at Barcelona, as representing the United States interests, by certain Cubans imprisoned in the Castle of San Fernando, Figueiras. This petition, by its nature and contents, appeals strongly to the sympathetic and benevolent consideration of this Government, which is disposed to take whatever measures may seem prudent and feasible to secure to Cubans imprisoned for purely political offenses all possible amelioration in their unhappy condition, and to obtain for them, if possible, the relief prayed for in said petition. With a view to the accomplishment of this end, a copy of your note and of said petition will be promptly forwarded to the commission which is charged by this Government with the negotiations for a treaty of peace between the United States and Spain, for its consideration and for such action as may seem meet and proper. I have, etc., ALVEY A. ADEE, COALING OF THE HELENA AT BERMUDA AND GIBRALTAR. Mr. White to Mr. Hay. No. 530.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, London, September 26, 1898. SIR: Referring to Mr. Adee's cipher telegram of 21st instant, I have the honor to inform you that I lost no time upon its receipt in addressing a note to the Marquis of Salisbury, of which I inclose a copy herewith. I took it myself to the foreign office and requested the under secretary (to whom I handed it) to read it at once, which he did, and I furthermore asked that the answer of Her Majesty's Government might be given as promptly as possible. On the 24th I received a private note stating that the Helena will be permitted to coal at Bermuda and Gibraltar on the understanding that she will not reenforce our Asiatic Squadron should hostilities be renewed with Spain. I therefore sent you the telegram, whereof a copy is inclosed. together with that of a note to the foregoing effect, which I have received to-day from the foreign office. I have expressed my thanks to the Marquis of Salisbury for the courtesy of Her Majesty's Govern ment in the matter. I have, etc., HENRY WHITE. |