General Sickles to Mr. Fish
Sir: Last night, in the course of a conversation with the president of the council, I referred to my note of the 26th ultimo, addressed to the minister of state, in regard to the treatment of American citizens in Cuba, and expressed the hope that it would be agreeable to his excellency to facilitate a satisfactory settlement of the questions I had presented. General Prim replied that he had already read my communication, and that it should receive immediate attention; that he appreciated the friendly action of the President, and that he was extremely anxious to remove every source of misunderstanding between the two countries; that the cabinet had now under consideration some [Page 706] general rules for the guidance of the authorities in Cuba, which, when made the subject of precise instructions, would prevent the recurrence of similar causes of complaint; that he had no doubt instances had occurred in which, through an excess of zeal, the authorities in Cuba had proceeded without sufficient care and deliberation; and that in all cases of just complaint he was disposed to make proper reparation. He added that I would soon hear from Mr. Sagasta on the subject, and he hoped the action of the Spanish cabinet would be found satisfactory to the President. I remarked that your note to Mr. Roberts of the 9th June had been communicated to Congress; that the long list of grievances complained of had painfully impressed public opinion in the United States, and I was therefore all the more desirous that his excellency should appreciate the importance of prompt action.
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I am, &c.,