Mr. Taylor to Mr.
Gresham.
Legation of the United States,
Madrid, January 8,
1895. (Received January 21.)
No. 284.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that your
telegram of the 5th instant, in reply to mine of the day before, was
received on the morning of the 6th (Sunday). Yesterday at 5 o’clock the
minister of state received me and I read the telegram to him, according
to your instructions. I was careful to prepare a note, a copy of which
is inclosed herein, in which I set forth what had actually transpired in
the matter up to that moment. This note I delivered to the minister of
state as my understanding of [Page 630]
the facts, and it was accepted as a true and accurate statement by the
minister after a careful perusal by the subsecretary. You will see that
no reference whatever is made in my note to the provision of our present
tariff as to bounties. The only addition suggested was that the new
arrangement should remain in force without a day unless terminated by
either party after six months’ notice to the other.
When I questioned the length of the notice suggested, I was told that it
was the time expressed in like arrangements made by Spain with other
countries. Seeing no real disadvantage to us in the suggestion, I
accepted it, subject to your approval. It was then agreed that the modus
vivendi should be perfected by an exchange of notes, and that it should
then be submitted to the Cortes immediately for ratification, after
which it is to go into instant effect. The minister said that he would
request Señor Canovas, the leader of the opposition, to let it pass
without contest, and in that way he hoped it would go through the Cortes
in fifteen or twenty days. At the end of the interview I sent you a
telegram. If I receive a favorable reply I hope to finally conclude the
matter at once.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Taylor to
Mr. Groizard.
Legation of the United States,
Madrid, January 7, 1895.
Excellency: On the 17th ultimo I had the
honor to read to you a telegram from my Government concerning the
prohibitive duties now imposed upon American products in Cuba and
Puerto Rico, a copy of which is appended. In the interview which
then took place between us you were kind enough to express in a most
friendly spirit a determination to take such action as would secure
to American products in the Antilles the same favorable treatment
now accorded by the Government of His Majesty to the most favored
nations, and that purpose you were kind enough to reiterate in a
note directed to me on the 31st ultimo. On the 4th instant you were
good enough to send to this legation as your representative Señor
Don Wenceslao R. de Villaurrutia, the subsecretary of state, who,
after a full review of the whole subject, informed me that he was
authorized to propose to my Government, through me, the making of a
modus vivendi between the two nations providing that American
products shall be subjected in the Antilles only to the lowest
tariff rates, in consideration of a like agreement upon the part of
the United States to guarantee to Spanish products the same
most-favored-nation treatment. In accordance with the understanding
then entered into between Señor Villaurrutia and myself, I at once
communicated the proposition presented by him to my Government by
telegraph. Yesterday I received the following reply of acceptance,
which I have had the honor to read to you:
Taylor, Minister, Madrid.
Your telegram of 4th opportune. Friendly disposition
manifested by Spanish Government appreciated. So long as
Spain accords most-favored-nation treatment to American
products President will refrain from exercising power of
discrimination or exclusion against Spanish products. Read
this to minister for foreign affairs.
Gresham.
[Page 631]
To this I am also instructed to add that—
We (the United States) will treat Spanish products on
most-favored-nation basis so long as they accord similar
treatment to American products.
By this acceptance upon the part of my Government of the proposition
made by the Government of His Majesty through you I rejoice to know
that the commercial conflict which seemed so imminent has been
averted by a just and equitable agreement in perfect accord with the
interests and honor of both nations. Please inform me at what moment
this new commercial understanding will take effect.
I seize this opportunity, etc.,
