Legation of the United States,
Madrid, October 29,
1896. (Received Nov. 13.)
No. 588.]
[Inclosure in No.
588.—Translation.]
The Duke of Tetuan to
Mr. Taylor.
Ministry of State,
Cestona, September 22,
1896.
Excellency: As I had the honor to inform
you in my note dated the 23d of June last, I duly asked for
information regarding the American subject, Bert S. Skiller, who was
detained on the 8th of April last on board a skiff on the coast of
Cuba by the Spanish torpedo boat Galicia. My
colleague, the minister of Ultramar, has just sent me a
[Page 648]
certified copy of the
proceedings in the case, from which it appears that on the 8th of
last June the court of naval jurisdiction abandoned the case in
conformity with the dispositions of the protocol of January 12,
1877. Therefore, when your excellency saw fit to address to me your
kind note of the 18th of said June, the cause was already in the
hands of the criminal court of Santiago de Cuba. No investigation
whatever was necessary—as soon as the American citizenship of Bert
S. Skiller was proved, and after the indispensable legal steps were
taken—for the Cuban authorities to comply with the dispositions of
the international agreements in force in our two countries.
The case belonged to the criminal court of Baracoa, the act forming
the subject of the proceedings having taken place at La Caleta, a
bay situated within the territory of the jurisdiction of that court,
and on July 31, that being the latest date of the news received, the
prisoner was expected at Baracoa, having been until then in the jail
of Santiago de Cuba. The president of the court had ordered the
greatest diligence in the proceedings, and had requested the judge
instructor to report upon the state of the case every eight
days.
I take great pleasure in being able to again assure your excellency
of the accuracy and loyalty with which the dispositions of the
protocol of January 12, 1877, are complied with in Cuba. As soon as
I receive news in regard to the prisoner Skiller I will take great
pleasure in transmitting it to you.
I avail myself, etc.,
The Duke of Tetuan.
