The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-07-14
RELATIONS WITH SPAIN.
The State Departments Dealings
with Alfonso's Government.
THE CUBAN WAR NOT MENTIONED
In the Volume on Foreign Relations,
Though tho Alliance Incident Is Re-
ported, as Well as Consul Williams Ef-

1
Though tho Alliance Incident Is Re-
| ported, as Well rs Consul Williams Ef-
forts in Behalf Of Arrested Americans.
I WASHINGTON, July Alt requires sew
enty-one printed pages in the volume Of
foreign relations to set out the correspond
eDce which has passed between the United
| States and Spain during the year 1895, yet
in no case Is there printed any matter in
the nature Of reports from United States
officers touching tho Cuban rebellion, its
Causes, progress or prospects The chapter
i on Spain begins with the celebrated Mora
case, which, having been settled satisfac-
torily by tho payment Of an indemnity by
Spain of $l,5OO,0OO, is now closed In
| Cident.
Next in order comes the Allianca incl
dent, beginning with Secretary Greshan's
vigorous demand upon the Spanish gov
ernment for prompt disavowNlvf the act
Of the Condo lie Venadito in firing upon
the American steamship, for an express
sion of regret and the issuance Of orders
to Spanish naval commanders to refrain
from Interference with legitimate Ameri-
can commerce, whether within three miles
OF the Cuban coast Or not.
The conclusion of this incident is for the
first time told officially in this publica-
ton. The Spanish government showed an
entire readiness to do everything that in
ternational law requires to smooth away
the bad impression made by the incident,
and after procuring u report on tho sub
ject from the Cuban officials the Duke
Tetuan, Spanish minister of foreign af-
IN fol Stato t,tn
Taylor u statement, in which ho says that
tho Alliance was fired upon with special
purpose not to hit her, sho being outside
of the jurisdictional zone of Spain.
This was an involuntary error which no
one could lament more than the govern
= mcnt of his majesty, whose purpose never
was to set obstacles or hindranccs to tho
legitimate commerce of the United States
and much less to give the slightest oifense
to the flag of II friendly power He adds
that instructions have been sent to the
commanders Of the ships of the navy to
avoid repetition of events similar to that
now in question, which is disavowcd by
the government of his majesty.
MIR. thl, then acting secretary of state,
closed the incident by accepting the dukes
commu nication us II sufficient and slti; j.
factory explanation, without conccding
that the cxact location of tho Alliance at
the time the shot was fired can be consd-
cred us controlling circumstances.
Correspondence passing between the
state department and the resident Spanish
minister relative to the enforcement Of
the United S!@tes n"",... r..,,-... .v", ,:-es ,:
up considerable space. 1t begins with tno
eases If the yachts, Lagonda and Baracoa,
but these have already been made public
through legal proceedings.
Half 4 dozen letters tell the story of the
fruitleSs attempt of Marshal Campos, then
captain general, to prevent United States
Consul General Williams from exercising
diplomatic functions in intervening to
protect American citizens arrested by the
Spanish officials ip Cuba. Secretary
Olncy acted with vigor ahd pronptncss
in this matter addressing himself to Min
lister Do LONE hero and to the Spanish
government at Madrid at the same timo
through Minister Taylor, and in less than
u month Consul General Williams was
recognized Us having full powers to look
after such matters being thus placed on
an equality with the German consuls in
Cuba.
One short letter from United States
Minister Taylor to Secretary Gresham on
Feb. 9, 1875, tells the story of a diplomatic
victory that from It's business value do
serves prominent place in the volume.
This was the final concession by the Spnr,-
ish government to the United States titi-
gems Of the right to pay minimum import
duties on goods sent to Cuba.
A premontiOn Of claims to be preferred
against Spain appears in several letters
from e. Atkins e. Co, of Boston, to Soc
rotary Olney, giving notice of the destruc-
tiOn of their valuable Solcdad sugar estate
by the insurgents. incidentally they note
that the insurgents are mainly negroes,
and that the orders to burn their property
were sent from Cuban headquarters in
New York with u purpose of causing
trouble between tho United States and
Spain,
The chapter on Spain ends with CORE
spondcnCe relative to the cases of certain
American citizens arrested and expelled
from Cuba-Francisco Corrillo, John A.
Somcrs and tho Anslcys.