No. 339.

General Sickles to Mr. Fish

No. 217.]

Sir: I called at the Foreign Office this afternoon, confident of finding the minister at his quarters, as this is the day appointed by himself for the reception of the diplomatic body. Mr. Sagasta had, however, left the department at an early hour to attend the sitting of the Cortes. I asked to see the assistant secretary of state, and desired him to remind the minister of his promise made on the 8th instant, to inform me of the conclusions he might reach after our interchange of views on that day. Mr. de Blas told me that an important debate was expected to come on to-day in the house, and that, besides, a cabinet council was to be held before the Cortes met; that for these reasons the minister had been unable to hold his usual reception this afternoon; that he, however, felt authorized to say to me, under reserve, that the council of ministers had yesterday agreed upon the bases of the reply that would be made to-morrow or next day to our proposition in relation to the reclamations of the United States against Spain; that no more than one commission would be insisted upon, and that this should have cognizance of all claims for alleged violations of the treaty of 1795.

I asked Mr. de Blas whether I might inform you by telegraph of the purport of his communication, and he replied in the affirmative.

I am, &c.,

D. E. SICKLES.