in a very earnest, sincere, and satisfactory way, save the ministers of Italy and Spain, who have said nothing. The English and German ministers called personally at the legation within two or three hours after the news of the loss of the Maine was confirmed. I have, etc. FRANCIS B. LOOMIS. Mr. Sherman to Señor del Viso. No. 17.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 24, 1898. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 19th instant, stating that you have been instructed by your Government to express its condolence in view of the disaster which occurred to the U. S. S. Maine. In reply I have to say that the Government of the United States gratefully appreciates the message of sympathy thus conveyed from the Government of the Argentine Republic. Accept, etc., JOHN SHERMAN. NOTE. Similar acknowledgments were made to the diplomatic representatives of the following countries: Belgium, Bolivia, Greater Republic of Central America, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Russia, Spain, and Turkey. No. 318.] Mr. Sherman to Mr. Jones. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 24, 1898. SIR: The Department has received from the chargé d'affaires ad interim of the Argentine Republic at this capital a note conveying the condolence of the Argentine Republic in view of the recent disaster to the U. S. S. Maine. You are instructed to inform the foreign office that the Government of the United States gratefully appreciates the message of sympathy transmitted by the Argentine Republic. Respectfully, yours, JOHN SHERMAN. NOTE. Similar instructions were sent to the diplomatic representatives of the United States accredited to the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Great Britain, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Spain, and Venezuela. L OUTRAGE ON THE UNITED STATES CONSULATE AT MALAGA. Mr. Woodford to Mr. Sherman. [Telegram.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Informed this morning (Saturday) by the United States consul at Malaga that his consulate was mobbed last night. I immediately demanded protection by Spanish Government of all American consulates in Spain. Local Spanish authorities at Malaga have suppressed the mob and replaced the United States shield, which had been destroyed. Saturday Evening. WOODFORD. No. 226.] Mr. Woodford to Mr. Sherman. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I am this morning in receipt of telegram from Mr. Bartleman, United States consul at Malaga, Spain, stating that his residence was stoned last evening. I have at once asked the Spanish Government to protect all United States consuls and consular offices throughout Spain. Respectfully, STEWART L. WOODFORD. Mr. Day to Mr. Woodford. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, The United States consul at Malaga reports civil governor called, expressing regrets. Shield replaced. Order restored. Your course in asking due precautions is approved and the prompt action of the authorities at Malaga is appreciated. DAY. No. 227.] Mr. Woodford to Mr. Sherman. MADRID, April 17, 1898. SIR: In continuation of my dispatch No. 226, dated April 16 instant, I have the honor to report that last evening I received telegram from Mr. Bartleman, consul at Malaga, that authorities had placed new coat of arms at consulate. Early this morning I have received another telegram from Consul Bartleman, stating that civil governor had called and expressed regret; that consulate is a wreck; and that archives and records are safe. I telegraph him this morning authorizing him to leave Malaga at his discretion whenever he shall feel that his personal safety requires his departure, and have instructed him in such case to turn his consulate over to the British consul at Malaga. Mr. Bartleman seems to have acted with coolness, courage, and discretion, and I commend him to the approval of the Department. I cable you in cipher as follows: SHERMAN, Secretary, Washington: MADRID, April 17, 1898. Have authorized United States consul at Malaga to leave Malaga whenever his personal safety shall require. Have instructed him to turn consulate over to British consul should he be compelled to leave. WOODFORD. The Spanish authorities at Malaga seem to have acted honorably and with reasonable promptitude, but the mob was evidently ugly and determined. I am, etc., STEWART L. WOODFORD. Mr. Woodford to Mr. Sherman. No. 229.] SHERMAN, Secretary, Washington: I have just received an official note from the Spanish Government expressing the sincere regret of Spain for the excesses committed against the United States consul at Malaga, and stating that competent instructions have been given to the authorities for the due protection of the persons and property of the consular representatives of the United States throughout Spain. I am, etc., WOODFORD. STEWART L. WOODFORD. No. 238.] Mr. Woodford to Mr. Sherman. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to inclose copy of report from R. M. Bartleman, United States consul at Malaga, dated April 18, instant, giving detailed account of the recent disturbances at Malaga. In acknowl edging to him the receipt of the report I have renewed the expression of the appreciation of the Government of his admirable conduct at so trying a time. Very respectfully, yours, STEWART L. WOODRUFF. [Inclosure in No. 238.] No. 4.] CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, MR. MINISTER: On the evening of the 15th instant, about 8 p. m., a group of students, bent upon showing their patriotism, started from the neighborhood of the institute toward the central part of the city, shouting praises to the army and navy; en route they were joined by the crowd, the procession growing from a few to several thousand. I had just finished dinner when the clerk of the consulate called at my residence to inform me that the procession had passed the office without referring in any way to the United States; that the object of the demonstration was apparently against the attitude of the Spanish Government. Scarcely had Mr. Troughton departed when he found himself obliged to return, stating that the crowd had divided itself into two or more divisions, one portion going toward the Alameda, the other to the Plaza de la Constitucion, where it was met by the civil governor and the mayor, who requested them to disperse; the other division was returning to the consulate. Scarcely had he uttered the last words when he heard a crash, caused by the breaking of glass. The consulate was demolished, the coat-of-arms removed, and in its place was hanging the Spanish colors. Meantime, the house occupied by the vice-consul and myself came in to a share of this patriotic (?) display. Thinking we were not at home, our visitors soon left us to visit the house of an American citizen, Mr. W. C. Bevan, who, fortunately, had left the city several days before. Before reaching his residence, however, they were met and turned back by the civil guard, now arriving on the scene of action, and finding it impossible to again attack the consulate, they proceeded toward the opera house, stopping the performance. The rioting continued until 1 or 1:30 a. m. Early the following morning I requested my colleagues of Great Britain and Colombia, the latter residing with me, to do me the favor of calling upon his excellency the civil governor, as I had no desire to see him before receiving an apology for what had transpired; to protest against what had taken place, and to know if his excellency was able to give proper protection to the consulate, my residence and self; if not, I desired to be informed of the fact. On their return they stated what the governor had said that the consulate, my house, and myself were now well protected, both by the civil guards and police; that he had received a telegram from Madrid directing him to restore the coat of arms in its place, using the military forces, if necessary, to accomplish this act, and wishing to know if I had another. I informed him that I had an old one. The chief of police, who accompanied my colleagues to take back my reply, then stated that as soon as the cavalry and infantry were in line and ready he would send for it. At 1 o'clock all was ready, the pieces were loaded before the crowd, and the arms of the United States was in view once more. This act brought forth a storm of protests from the assembled multitude. Their fury knew no bounds, and they promised themselves that it would again be removed that evening. At 4 p. m. the civil governor and his secretary called upon me at my house to express his regrets and those of his Government for the unfortunate event of the previous evening, and at the same time he requested me to inform you that the coat of arms had been restored in obedience to his instructions. He seemed very sad, and was profuse in his apologies. In reply, I thanked him, and stated that, so far as to my personal feeling, I was entirely satisfied, provided my Government was. Throughout the day the demonstrations continued; windows and lamps were broken by hundreds; shopkeepers were obliged to close their places of business; the riot and confusion that took place is indescribable. During the evening it finally became necessary for the cavalry to make several charges at a full gallop, using their sabers right and left, inflicting and receiving wounds and making many arrests. All entrances to the streets near to the consulate were now closed and guarded by the cavalry. These precautions continued over Sunday, when more trouble was anticipated, but the wounds received by the people cooled their desires, and up to the hour of writing this dispatch (11 p. m.) nothing more has taken place, and I trust the city will soon regain its normal condition. In speaking of the past event, I have the honor to state that the authorities here seem to have taken such precautions as they thought efficient for the protection of our interests. That they proved insufficient is to be lamented. Our actual losses will be very small; a few glasses and a little paint and varnish will put all to rights again. The great loss will be for the Marquis of Lurios, owner of the property. I have for days past been expecting this trouble and took the precaution to have the archives in a safe place. That I could not remove them elsewhere was owing to the exposed position of the building, which is located in front of the Military and Liceo Club from whence all my actions for days past have probably been observed. Knowing this, I have used the utmost caution in all my movements; I have avoided public places where an insult could possibly have been offered to me; moreover, my daily life for a long time past has been to go to my office and return home again at the end of the day. I append herewith copies of all telegrams and correspondence in reference to the within-mentioned demonstration and trust that my conduct and actions have your approval. Demonstration, 8 evening, Friday. Windows consulate broken, shield destroyed. Residence also stoned. BARTLEMAN. |