Mr. Hale to Mr.
Seward.
No. 113.]
Legation of the United States,
Madrid, December 6, 1867.
Sir: Yesterday I received from his excellency
the minister of state a formal answer to the inquiry of your telegram, a
copy of which, with a translation thereof, I herewith enclose.
The answer before sent by me, though perfectly correct, was not strictly
official, but I sent it by telegraph, supposing you were anxious for the
information.
After I had communicated the contents of your telegram to the minister of
state, and thought a reasonable time had elapsed for an answer which I
did not receive, I requested Mr. Perry, the secretary of this legation,
to call at the office of the minister of state and suggest that an early
answer was desirable. He went, and enclosed I send you the report which
he made to me of the result of his said application.
With the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.]
Señor Arrazola to Mr. Hale.
Ministry of State, Palace, December 5, 1867.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that as
the minister of the “gobernacion,” to whom I sent your note of the
3d instant, informs me, not being satisfied with the general
sanitary state of the Americans, and the cholera having broken out
in the island of Cuba, where it has caused great ravages, as well as
the yellow fever in New Orleans, the government of her Majesty have
found themselves under the imperious necessity of continuing with
rigor the measures which they had adopted in regard to vessels
proceeding from America, it not being possible, though they regret
the necessity, to modify the regulations which they have adopted
with the object of not exposing this peninsula to the introduction
of these epidemic diseases.
I avail myself of this occasion to renew to your excellency the
assurance of my most distinguished consideration.
The Minister Plenipotentiary
of the United States.
