had from the outset confidently expected, and which it seems his excellency had made to you orally on the occasion of your first interview, but further and more complete announcement of the disauthorization of the minister's act, which was intended to be conveyed by the manner and form in which his retirement from the post of honor and trust he had so long filled was accomplished. Having communicated his Excellency's final note to the President and ascertained his gratification thereat, I telegraphed to you on the 18th instant expressing the satisfaction of this Government at the satisfactory termination of the incident. As for the letter itself, I have had much pleasure in recognizing the personal claim of Señor Canalejas to its possession, even though it may never have reached his hands; and it was accordingly delivered, on the 14th instant, against receipt, to Mr. Calderon Carlisle, who presented himself as the agent of Señor Canalejas for that purpose. Respectfully, yours, Inclosures. JOHN SHERMAN. 1. Copy of original letter of Señor Dupuy de Lome. [Not printed.] 2. Translation of same. [Printed ante.] 3. Facsimile of letter as it appeared in the New York Journal. [Not printed.] 4. Copy of translation as it appeared in newspapers. [Not printed] No. 158.] Mr. Woodford to Mr. Sherman. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Last evening, in obedience to diplomatic usage, I gave a dinner to Señor Polo de Barnabé, the newly appointed minister from Spain to the United States. He expects to leave Madrid to-morrow, February 26, instant, for Washington. He should arrive not later than March 10. I have carefully refrained from newspaper interviews since my appointment to this post and have avoided all occasions for public speech. But, at the close of last night's dinner and in the presence of the representatives of the great powers and of members of the Spanish cabinet and of guests from the Spanish court, I gave the health of the Queen and of the new Spanish minister in these words: My friends, I ask you to join me in drinking the health of Her Majesty, the Queen Regent of Spain. My Government is especially gratified that Her Majesty has named as her representative to the United States our friend and guest at this table, Señor Polo de Barnabé. He will be thrice welcome at Washington. His father, Admiral Polo, and his wife's father were long the honored representatives from Spain to the United States. In the new minister my people will recognize a worthy representative of the historic nation of Spain. In the name of my President and people I wish him safe voyage and assure him of most cordial welcome by the Government at Washington. I drink to peace. May peace always be and abide between the land of Columbus and that new land beyond the sea, which Columbus gave to civilization and to the future. Señor Polo de Barnabé replied in like cordial terms. I have, etc., STEWART L. WOODFORD. No. 144.] Mr. Sherman to Mr. Woodford. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 1, 1898. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 140, of the 14th ultimo, in which you confirm the Department's telegram to you of February 12, giving the Spanish text of the cabled objectionable passages of the recently published letter of Señor Dupuy de Lôme, and your telegram of February 14th, giving the text of the note which you addressed to the minister of state on that day, communicating the said text. Mr. Day's telegram of February 12 appears to have been correctly received by you with the exception of the punctuation. I should add that the last word but one of the second Spanish extract which was almost illegible in the original and which was at first interpreted to read "guardar" is now understood to mean "ganando," so that the last words read "y para ir ganando emigrantes." It is observed that in your note to the minister of state of February 14 you leave the word blank. In this connection I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 137, of February 11th, in which you report the interview had by you with the minister of state about 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the 10th instant, for the purpose of communicating to his excellency the Acting Secretary's telegram to you of the evening of the 9th, received by you on the morning of the 10th, whereby you were directed to inform the minister of state that, as the utility of Señor Dupuy de Lôme as a medium of frank and sincere intercourse between this country and Spain was obviously ended, the prompt recall of the minister was expected by the President. Respectfully yours, JOHN SHERMAN. No. 169.] Mr. Woodford to Mr. Sherman. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt this day of Department dispatch No. 137, dated February 23, 1898, giving circumstantial account of the Dupuy de Lôme incident. This account agrees substantially with my understanding of the whole incident, excepting that my personal understanding of my interview with the Spanish minister of foreign affairs, in the afternoon of Thursday, February 10, is that he then confined himself to regretting the minister's indiscretion, while his excellency's understanding is that he then indicated or made the frank expression of regret, which was substantially enlarged in his formal note of disauthorization, dated February 15. As the minister speaks little English and I little Spanish, the possible misunstanding may have occurred easily. STEWART L. WOODFORD. I remain, etc., No. 158.] Mr. Sherman to Mr. Woodford. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 158, of the 25th ultimo, quoting the remarks made by you at the dinner which you gave to Señor Polo de Barnabé, the recently appointed minister from Spain to the United States. They are cordially approved by this Gov ernment. Respectfully, yours, JOHN SHERMAN. No. 68.] CASE OF THE "COMPETITOR." Mr. Woodford to Mr. Sherman. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to inform you that I have this day received a letter from the Spanish minister of foreign affairs, dated November 15th instant, informing me that the crew of the bark Competitor has been pardoned and that the American citizens involved therein will be placed at the disposal of the consul-general of the United States at Havana. I have just telegraphed you as follows: Secretary SHERMAN, Washington: NOVEMBER 17, 1897. Spanish cabinet just notify me that Queen has pardoned Competitor crew. Very cordial note. I have acknowledged same in friendly terms without committing our Government. Send copies of both by next mail. WOODFORD. I have written the Spanish minister of foreign affairs acknowledging his note and stating that I have had great pleasure in informing my Government this day by telegraph of the clemency of Her Majesty the Queen Regent, and adding that I appreciate most deeply the graceful and generous courtesy of his excellency's note in expressing so cordially the friendly sentiments subsisting between our two countries. I inclose copies of the note from the Spanish Government and of my reply thereto, and have the honor to be, Very respectfully yours, (Inclosures.) STEWART L. WOODFORD. [Inclosure 1 in No. 68-Translation.] Señor Gullon to Mr. Woodford. MINISTRY OF STATE, EXCELLENCY. Palace, November 15, 1897. MY DEAR SIR: The Government of His Majesty being desirous to contribute to the pacification of the island of Cuba with acts of mercy for those who are subject to the action of the courts or are suffering penalties for political offenses, decided to submit to the sanction of Her Majesty, my August Sovereign, a royal decree empow ering the Governors-General of Cuba and Puerto Rico to grant pardon in all cases in which they thought proper to do so, without distinction of rights or jurisdictions. In accordance with the provisions of said royal decree, pardon has been granted to the crew of the bark Competitor. The American citizens complicated (or involved) in this process will be placed at the disposal of the consul-general of the United States at Havana, informing them that they are free, but that they must leave the Spanish territory and not come back to it without a special authorization. I fully hope that the Washington Cabinet and your excellency will appreciate with accuracy the satisfaction felt by the Government of His Majesty at a decision which, while responding to the magnanimity of the Queen as well as to the old and public purposes of her present ministers, harmonizes also with the friendly sentiments and with the cordiality of relations subsisting between our two countries. I avail myself, etc., To the MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNITED STATES. PIO GULLON. No. 32.] [Inclosure 2 in No. 68.] Mr. Woodford to Señor Gullon. MADRID, November 17, 1897. EXCELLENCY: I have the honor and gratification to acknowledge the receipt this day of the very courteous and friendly communication from your excellency under date of November 15th instant, informing me that pardon has been granted to the crew of the bark Competitor, and that the American citizens who were under arrest have been placed at the disposal of the consul-general of the United States at Havana. I have had great pleasure in informing my Government this day, by telegraph, of the clemency of Her Majesty the Queen Regent, and I appreciate most deeply the graceful and generous courtesy of your excellency's note in expressing so cordially the friendly sentiments subsisting between our two countries. I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to your excellency the assurances of my highest consideration. His Excellency the MINISTER OF STATE, etc. STEWART L. WOODFORD. No. 82.] Mr. Day to Mr. Woodford. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 2, 1897. SIR: Your dispatch of the 17th ultimo, confirming your telegram of the same date, advising the Department of the pardon of the crew of the bark Competitor, and inclosing copies of the note from the Spanish minister of foreign affairs on that subject, and of your reply thereto, has been received. The Department is gratified to learn of the clemency of Her Majesty the Queen Regent, and deeply appreciates the generous and humane motives which have prompted this act of grace. Respectfully, yours, WILLIAM R. DAY, Acting Secretary. No. 101.] Mr. Woodford to Mr. Sherman. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Madrid, December 27, 1897. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Department's dispatch No. 82, dated the 2d of December instant, relating to the par don of the crew of the bark Competitor. I have addressed a further note to the Spanish minister of foreign affairs, under date of December 24 instant, conveying to his excellency the gratification felt by the Government at Washington in learning of the clemency of Her Majesty the Queen Regent and its deep appreciation of the generous and humane motives which prompted this act of grace. I inclose copy of such note to the Spanish minister, and have the honor to be, Very respectfully, yours, STEWART L. WOODFORD. [Inclosure.] Mr. Woodford to Señor Gullon. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, EXCELLENCY: Referring to my note of November 17 ultimo, in which I expressed my deep appreciation of the grateful and generous courtesy of your excellency's note of November 15, informing me of the action of His Majesty's Government in regard to the crew of the bark Competitor and American citizens under arrest in Cuba, and in which I added that I had taken great pleasure in communicating this action to my Government, I now have the honor to convey to your excellency, by direction of the President, the gratification felt by the Government at Washington in learning of the clemency of Her Majesty the Queen Regent and its deep appreciation of the generous and humane motives which prompted this act of grace. I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to your excellency the assurance of my highest consideration. STEWART L. WOODFORD. His Excellency the MINISTER OF STATE. DESTRUCTION OF THE U. S. S. "MAINE" IN HAVANA HARBOR. [Telegrams.] General Lee to Mr. Day. HAVANA, January 12, 1898. Rioting at this hour, 1 p. m., Mobs, led by Spanish officers, attacked to-day the offices of the four newspapers here advocating autonomy. continues. HAVANA, January 12, 1898. Much excitement, which may develop into serious disturbances. The trouble commenced by those who oppose autonomy, and so far is directed against those who advocate it. No rioting at present, but rumors of it are abundant. Palace heavily guarded. Consulate also protected by armed men. HAVANA, January 13, 1898. After a day and night of excitement, all business suspended, and rioting, everything quiet at this hour. City heavily guarded. Soldiers |