No. 417.
General Sickles to Mr. Fish.
United States
Legation in Spain,
Madrid, August 8, 1873.
(Received August 30.)
No. 686.]
Sir: I have the honor to forward a translation of a
communication from a person identified with the insurgent movement in
Valencia, addressed to the United States consul. Also, translation of a
reply made on behalf of all the consuls by Mr.
Cialdini, the Italian vice-consul.
The papers having been transmitted to me by Mr.
Loewenstein, in charge of the United States
consulate at Valencia, accompanied by a report of his proceedings, a copy of
which is inclosed, I sent him certain instructions, winch will be found in
Appendix C.
I am, &c.,
[Page 1025]
[Appendix A.]
Mr. Loewenstein to
Mr. Adee.
Consulate
of the United States,
Valencia, July 25, 1873.
(Received July 30.)
Sir: I have respectfully to inform you that on
the 23d instant I received and accepted an invitation from the British
consul to assist at a meeting of all the consuls here in order to treat
of a subject of interest to them all.
The subject being to form a commission of five, that is to represent all
the consular body, (composed of twenty-one individuals.)
This consular commission proposed and accepted is composed of the
representatives of the United States, France, Germany, Italy, and
England.
The consul of Italy, M. Guido Cialdini, brother of the general and
minister of that name, has been elected unanimously the president, and
the British consul the secretary of this commission. The inclosure No. 1
is a copy of the proceedings of our meeting.
There was another reason for naming said commission not contained in the
inclosure No. 1. That is, considering the actual political circumstances
of this country, and that the majority of the consuls are Spanish
subjects, they would rather be a difficulty than a help in resolving
important questions which may arise between foreign and Spanish
subjects. This will be avoided by the commission thus composed of five
of the most powerful nations, acting in the name of the whole body.
I have also the honor to forward to you a copy (No. 2) of a circular
received by the president of the junta
revolucionana of Valencia, and our collective answer to it,
(No. 3.)
I would also mention that a Spanish merchant here, Mr. Casimiro
Luna, selling American and other sewing-machines,
intended to fix, during the fair here, on the outside of his tiluda the American flag, but I told him that
this being prohibited by the law he would, by insisting upon it, oblige
me to apply to the government to take it down, as I think it improper
that the American flag should cover a commercial charlatanry, or perhaps
a fraud.
I am, &c.,
[Appendix B.—Translation.]
No. 2.
Circular of the cantonal authorities of
Valencia to the consular body, and reply of the latter,(appendices 2 and 3 to Mr. Loewenstein’s dispatch of
July 25, 1873.)
The necessity of providing for the restoration of order, the difficult
and painful nature of the situation, and the desire we feel to speedily
create a normal and orderly state of things which will protect all
citizens in the free exercise of their civil rights, are powerful causes
which have deferred the time when this junta should have the
satisfaction of addressing the worthy representative of the United
States in this city. We are the sole and supreme power of the canton,
since our origin springs from the will of the people represented in the
militia and manifested in an election.
Nevertheless the powers conferred upon us are merely provisional until
universal suffrage comes to annul them or to confirm them. We have
founded the canton conformably to the principles of the government, but
without the sanction of the assembly, for we have been moved thereto by
purely local and patriotic motives.
The desire to avert a great wrong from this city drove us to rebel
against a government to which we were closely bound by the double tie of
an idea and a common interest.
Our mission, therefore, is mainly confined to preserving social order in
all its integrity, for it is the basis of public welfare, and to
securing from any detriment the rights of all citizens, both natives and
foreigners.
Health and federal republic.
Valencia, July 23,
1873.
The President,
PEDRO
BARRIENTES.
To the Citizen Consul
of the United States.
No. 3.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the polite communication
you were pleased to send me, under date of yesterday, through your
president.
I observe with satisfaction the good desires which animate the junta to
sustain social
[Page 1026]
order, in
order that the interests of none of the inhabitants of this canton shall
suffer in the least degree.
I avail myself of this occasion to state to the junta that the consular
body of this capital has appointed a committee of its own members,
composed of the representatives of France, Germany, England, the United
States of America, and Italy, of which I am chairman, and whose mission
is to represent that body in all its official acts, and consequently the
junta will be pleased to regard this reply as made in the name and stead
of all the consuls accredited to this capital, to each of whom your
circular is addressed.
Valencia, July 24,
1873.
The Vice-Consul of His Majesty the King of
Italy,
G. CIALDINI.
The Junta of the Valencia Canton.
[Appendix C.]
General Sickles to Mr. Loewenstein.
Legation of
the United States,
Madrid, July 30,
1873.
No. 9.]
Sir: Your communication of the 25th instant,
with three inclosures, was received to-day. You will carefully avoid any
engagement with your colleagues at Valencia which may affect your entire
liberty of action in your official capacity. It is not in accordance
with the practice of the United States Government that its agents should
associate themselves with the representatives of other powers in
measures touching its political or commercial relations with the country
or places to which they are accredited. You are not authorized to
recognize the official character of the persons pretending to set up a
separate government at Valencia. The United States recognize the
government of the Spanish Republic, and no other, in this country. You
have a right to demand of whomsoever you may find in the actual exercise
of power in your district all needful protection for your person and the
persons of those acting under you, as well as for your families and your
dwellings, and likewise for the persons and property of citizens of the
United States in your consular district. You have also the right to
communicate freely with this legation, and with any public or private
vessel of the United States that may enter any port in your district.
You will, however, be particular to avoid taking any steps which may be
looked upon as a recognition of any authority hostile to this
government.
I am, &c.,
