Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1896-07-18
IS ALMOST AN APOLOGY
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE
UNITED STATES AND SPAIN
o,a.rs We're Issued by His Majesty
Not to Fire Upon Amer
can Vessels.

Washington. July 13.-It requires q
nrinted pages in the volume OF IorelsH
relations 10 set out the correspondence
which mas passed between the Ohiteo
States and Spain during the year 1919
vet in no case was there printed any
matter in the nature OF reports from Oh-I
ed States officers touching the repellloH
and its causes, progress or prospects.
The chapter on Spain begins with the
celebrated Mora case which, having peer
settled satisfactorily by the payment OF
an indemnity by Spain of a million aho
a half dollars, is now closed lncldeht
Next in order comes the Allianca incl
dent beginning with Secretary Gresham
vigorous demand upon the Spanish gov
eminent for d prompt disaVOWal Oh lhe
act of the Condo NenadtO in firing upon
the American steampship, for an express
sion of regret and the issuance of orders
to Spanish naval commanders to refrain
from interference with Legitimate Amefl
can commerce. whether within three
miles of the Cuban coast or not.
The conclusion of this incident Is fOl
the first time told officially in this pup
icatiOn. The Spanish government show
ed its entire readiness to do everything
that international law requires TO smooth
away the bad impression made by the
incident, and after procuring report or
the subject from the Cuban officials, the
duke of Tetuan, Spanish minister of for
eign affairs, delivered to United States
Minister Taylor a statement IN Whicf
he says that the Alliance was fired upof
with a special purpose not to hit her, she
being outside of the jurisdictiOnal zone OF
Spain. This was an involuntary error
which no one could lament more thar
the government of his majesty, Whose
purpose never was to set obstacles OF
hindrances to the legitimate commerce Of
the United States, and much less to give
the slightest offense to the flag Of q
friendly power. He adds that Instructions
have been sent to the cOmanders of the
ships of the navy to "avoid a repetition o.
events similar to that which is now II
consideration, which is aginst the wish
Of his majesty"
Mr. Uni, then acting secretary Of state
closed the incident by accepting The
dukes communication as a sufficiently
satisfactory explanation, without con
ceding that the exact location of the
Alliance at the time the shot was fireG
can be considered as a controlling cir
cumstanCe.
The correspondence passing between
the state department and the resident
Spanish minister relative to the enforce.
ment of the United States neutrality laws
takes up considerable space. 1t begins
LagOnda and Naracoa. but these have
already been made public through lega
proceedings. Half a dozen letters tell the
story of the fruitleSS attempt of Marsha
Campos then captain general, to prevent
United States Consul General Williams
from exercising his diplomatic functions
IN Intervening to protect American ctti
zens arrested by the Spanish officials il
Cuba.
Secretary Oney acted with vigor in this
action, addressing himself to Minister
De LONE here and to the Spanish govern
ment at Madrid at the same time
through Minister Taylor, and in less thar
month Consul General Williams was
recognized as having absolute power tC
look after such matters, being thus place.
on an equality with the German consuls
in Cuba.
a letter from United States Minister
Taylor to Secretary Gresham in Febru
airy, 1885, tells the story of a diplomatic
victory that, from it's business value, de
serves a prominent place in the volume
This was the final concession by the
Spanish government to the United States
citizens of the right to pay minimum i'm
port duties on goods sent to Cuba.
A premonition of the claims to be pre-
ferred against Spain appears in seVera
letters of Eatkins & Co. of Boston tC
Secretary Olney, giving notice of the de
structon of their valuable Soledad sugar
estate by the insurgents.
Incidentally, they note that the insur
gents are mainly negroes, and, with or
ders to burn their property, were sen
from Cuban headquarters in New Yirl
with a purpose of causing trouble between
the United States and Spain. The chap
ter on Spain ends with the correspondence
relative to the cases of certain American
citizens arrested and expelled from Cub
Francis Garlic, John A. Somers. anC
the AnSlies.