Mr. Taylor to Mr. Gresham.
Madrid, February 22, 1894. (Received March 10.)
Sir: I have the honor to report that I have just received a note from the minister of state touching the Cuban repertory, a copy of which I inclose herein with translation. As the statement that the text of the English repertory “being the one agreed upon, is the only one that can have force and bind both Governments” seemed to imply an intention upon the part of the Spanish Government to challenge the validity of the execution of the contemporaneous Spanish version, I at once asked an interview with the minister of state in order to set the matter at rest before communicating with you. I was received immediately by the minister who assured me that it was not his intention to dispute the fact that the repertory was validly executed in English and Spanish. He said that the difficulty was that the Spanish version did not correspond with the English; that the Spanish version was so loose and defective as to render any attempt to execute it very difficult if not impossible. For that reason he said that he appealed to my Government to consent to the making by experts of a new Spanish version so that a reliable criterion could be established for the settlement of all disputes, past, present, and future. I replied that as you were especially anxious for the repertory as made to be put into immediate execution, I could only telegraph the facts and ask for instructions. Thereupon I sent you the telegram. If you should conclude to enter into the making of a new Spanish version I hope you will instruct me as to whom I shall employ to represent the United States. More skill will be required, I fear, in Spanish and English, than is possessed by anyone in this legation.
I am, etc.,