No. 573.
Mr. Cushing to Mr. Fish.
Madrid, August 24, 1874. (Received September 16.)
Sir: There has been more or less discussion and conversation here, within a few days past, on occasion of a rumor started by the “Freeman’s Journal” of New York, of the intended cession of Puerto Rico to Germany, and also of a rumor from other quarters of instructions in that respect to be sent by you to Mr. Davis and myself.
The statement of the “Freeman’s Journal is flatly contradicted here on the part of the government.
I take it for granted that the rumor is a pure invention, imposed upon the public through the press for the double purpose of exciting prejudice in the United States and annoying the Spanish government in reference to the political attitude lately assumed to ward it by-Germany.
The reasons which the German government has assigned for resolving to acknowledge the present Spanish government, and by moral influence at least to aid it against the Carlists, are sufficiently strong in themselves to justify such action without our looking behind public professions in quest of any minor inducements; apart from which, it would [Page 908] be impossible for Germany to harbor any such inducement in view of the initiative which she has taken in the matter by her representations to other powers.
There is another rumor here touching Puerto Rico, which also seems to me to be false, to wit, that an expedition is being prepared at Aspin-wall for the purpose of hostile attack upon Puerto Rico. I take it for granted either that the rumor of such an expedition is wholly unfounded, or that the suggestion of Puerto Rico as its object is intended to divert and distract the attention of the public authorities of Cuba.
No serious question exists at the present time between Spain and the colony of Puerto Rico, nor any indication of insurrectionary purposes there.
I shall have occasion to address to you soon a copy of regulations lately issued by the Spanish government for the completion of emancipation in Puerto Rico, together with some observations on the subject suggested to me by D. Rafael de la Labra, the efficient advocate in Madrid of emancipation in the Spanish Antillas.
I am, &c,