The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-29
THE CASE OF SANTOS.
The Action of the State Department Which
Resulted in His Release.

The Action of the State Department Which
Resulted in His Release.
WASHINGTON, July 28.-The Speaker to-day
laid before the House a communication from
the Secretary of State, in answer to House
resolution, inclosing mass of correspondence
in relation to the Imprisonment and release of
Jules Santos by the government of Ecuador.
After long correspondence touching Santos's
nationality, Secretary Bayard on May l. 1885,
wrote Consul general Beach that the govern
ment held Santos's citizenship was no longer
debatable, and that he must have the same alb
solute protection of his property as any other
citizen of the United States no further delay in
doing justice to Santos could be expected from
the government of Ecuador or permitted
by the government of the United
States. The consul general was also mott
fed that Commander Mahan, Of the United
States ship Wachusetts, would be instructed to
remain within reach pending the prompt settle
mens Of the case to afford Santos an opportunity
to return to the United States should he desire.
On May Is, 1885, Senior Flores, the Ecuadcrian
minister, telegraphed from New York to Secre-
tary Bayard, requesting him to stop proceedings
through the United States consul until he could
be heard in person. to which. on the following
day, Secretary Bayard replied that the minister
might peruse the papers in the case with q view
TO his telegraphing his government OF the con-
currence In the decision of the State Depart
ment, which, the Secretary says, sbeine done,
may avoid the presence of a man-of-war OF the
United States at Guayaquil, and so enable the
prompt disposition of the matter"
On May Is, the Secretary, by agreement with
Senior Flores. sent to the President of Ecuador q
telegram handed to him by Senior Flores In
the translation of the telegram made by the De-
partment of State. the minister requests the re-
lease of Santos without touching the question
of nationality while the translation made by
Senior Flores reads "reserving all question of
citizenship"
On May %, Senior Flores wrote to Secretary
Bayard that he had sent the telegram, before
examining the papers in the Santos case, 'being
happy to thus give proof of confidence"
Other correspondence following shows that
the Ecuadoran minister endeavored to have the
State Department reopen the case, which is fol-
lowed; on June Is, 1885, by request from the
Secretary OF State to Secretary Whitney that
telegraphic orders be sent to the commander Of
the Wachusetts directing him to proceed forth
with, with his vessel, to Guayaquil, with the I'M
derstanding that his mission is entirely friend
", and that If the situation or treatment of San
tos should seem to require it, he will ask the in
structions of the department. At the same
time the United States consul-general was direct
cd to demand direct trial or speedy release for
Santos. He is advised that the presence of the
Wachusetts is not to be deemed menace. On
July 4, 1885, Senior Flores notified the State De-
partment that amnesty had been granted, and
requested the withdrawal of the United States
ship Iroquois from Patoi. The consul general
was requested to confirm the statement, to
which he replied, on July Is, 1885, that such a
construction might be placed On an act just
doran government desired to free Santos and
extinguish his claim for indemnity by one act
Later, on Aug. H. 1885, it was positively an
nounced that Santos had been liberated