The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-05
Humiliating Position of
Our Government.
Spain Ready to Concede All Our
Original Demands in Madrid,
but Fish Accepts Less
in Washington.
Complete Confirmation OF the
Herald's Dispatches.
What Siokles Did and Why He
Resigned.

Resigned. 4
WASHINGTON. Jan. l. 1874
Information has been received at the Spanish
Legation In this city as well as at the State De-
partment in reference to the recent complications
with Spain on the virginius question. You will
remember the despatch that appeared in the
HERALD detailing the demands made upon Spain
ultimatum prepared by Grant. the account Of an
interview between Minister Sickles and Signor
Caravajal the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs
You Will also recollect the speedy publication In
some of the American journals, and the swift wit
ness borne by the london correspondent
Of the Associated Press. to the fact
that there had been no misunderstanding
between Minister Sickles and Signor Caravaal;
that there had been no demonstration on the part
of the populace against the American Embassy;
that the points Of the demand made by General
Grant were untrue; and finally, that the statement
sent through the HERALD to the erect that General
Sickles had resigned his mission at Madrid was
unfounded.
LIES DIPLOMATIC AND GENUINE NEWS.
OF course no one knows better than your cor.
respondent at this capital that there are many
necessities controlling the administration of diplo-
macy which make it possible and proper at times
for Secretary Of State to deny facts that he knows
to be true, and the HERALD has, therefore, been in
the position, to certain extent of publishing In
formation that was challenged by Secretary Fish.
The Information that your correspondent has re-
ceived, and which can be verified by Official docu-
ments, Is of this character.
CALM REVIEW OF THE FACTS
When intelligence was received in Washington
Of the capture of the vglnius and the shooting Of
the four principal prisoners taken by the Tornado.
q despatch was sent from Washington to Madrid
directing Minister Sickes to make representations
to the Spanish government of the same character
as those which had been made during the incar.
ceration OF DR.. Houard and the detention Of the
Lizzie Major, the Aspnwall and other vessels. In
other words the Minister at Madrid was instructed
to press upon the Spanish government, in the
peremptory tone common to negotiations with
that Power,
THE NECESSITY OF ExAcr1Na PREPARATION FROM
SPAIN
for injuries thus committed. This communi-
cation was sent to Sickles by telegraph, In
cipher, and the country was disposed to permit
the execution Of Ryan and his three confederates
<c
denly came the intelligence that the larger part Of
the crew, (s7 in number). many of them inferior
servants. engineers, sailors and 80 Cd, having no
direct part in the command or purpose OF the
without trial. The administration, acting under
the pressure Of public opinion, directed Minister
Sickles to make formal demand upon the Spanish
government, and to accompany this demand with
were not granted by q certain date, Minister
Sickles would ask his passports and leave Ma
drid.
THE POINTS
OF this demand were as follows:-
F1rst-Restor alton Of the virginius.
Second-The surrender Of the survivors of the
crew.
Thiyd-Compensatio to the families of those
who had been slain.
Fourtn-The punishment OF those who had com.
mitted the crime.
PUyh-Indemnity for the future.
Those were the five demands but there was also
attached to the last point Of this demand that
Minister Sickles while not insisting on the aboli-
ton Of slavery in Cuba as thing that would not
be proper under international law, should enforce
upon the Spanish government, with all the energy
in his power, the conviction Of the President that.
without the abolition OF slavery there could be no
guarantee for the future.
THIS WAS THE ULTIMATUM
as presented to the Spanish government by Gen.
eral Sickles, and the readers OF the HERALD will
remember that those we're the points embraced In
ostentatiously denied at the time by the State
Department. 1t now appears that those demands
were presented, and Minister Sickles, taking the
American view of the question, and knowing the
popular feeling which existed in the United States
with reference to the massacre Of the crew,
pressed them upon the Spanish government with
an earnestness amounting almost to menace.
When he called upon Sgnor Caravajal
and represented to him the nature Of
the atrocities committed at Santiago de
Cuba, that Minister-as the HERALD reported at
the time-denied the right OF the American gov
eminent to interfere in o question of municipal
authority. and the interview ended by an angry