Mr. Hay to Mr.
Day.
American Embassy,
London, July 14,
1898.
No. 455.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith
copies of a letter dated 11th instant, which I have received from the
Marquis of Tweeddale, chairman of the Eastern Extension Australasia ana
China Telegraph Company, Limited, of the cablegram which I thereupon
sent you in cipher, and of your reply, with respect to the opening and
neutralization of the Hongkong-Manila cable.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 455.]
Lord Tweeddale to
Mr. Hay.
London, E. C, July 11, 1898.
Sir: Since I last had the honor of
discussing with your excellency the possibility of reopening the
Hongkong-Manila cable before the termination of hostilities, the
following telegram has been received from the company’s general
manager in the Far East:
Commodore Hongkong and shipping community much concerned now
that typhoon season commences at absence weather telegrams
from Manila, which are of immense value to life and
property.
Authorities of all nations with whom commodore consulted
agree and hope that representations and pressure on part
company in proper quarters may bring about speedy
restoration.
I also understand that at the request of the British admiral on the
China Station, Her Majesty’s Government have, through the British
ambassador at Madrid, made urgent representations to the Spanish
Government in favor of reopening the cable at the earliest possible
moment.
The company have also been in communication with the telegraph
department at Madrid on the subject, and have to-day received a
letter (copy inclosed) from the accredited representative in London
of that department, agreeing to the communication being at once
restored, provided the cable and telegraph station in Manila are
completely neutralized, so as to be available for the transmission
of telegrams of every kind and from all sources.
Under these circumstances I venture to hope that the Government of
the United States will be able to see their way to cooperate in the
[Page 980]
matter by agreeing to
the complete neutralization of the cable and telegraph station, and
instructing Admiral Dewey accordingly. The company will then lose no
time in dispatching one of their maintenance ships to Manila to
repair the cable.
I have, etc.,
[Subinclosure—translation.]
Mr. Vigil to Lord
Tweeddale.
Monsieur le Directeur: I have the honor to
inform you that the negotiations conducted between you and me for
the reopening of the cable, Hongkong-Manila, have had a favorable
result, as, according to a telegram which the director-general of
posts and telegraphs has addressed to me on the 9th instant, the
Spanish Government intrusts the company, of which you are the worthy
director, to take the necessary steps to obtain complete
neutralization of the cable, giving you entire independence and
freedom from interference on the part of the one or the other of the
belligerents, on condition that your office at Manila is considered
neutral territory to give free course to all telegrams—official,
private, in plain or secret language, whether in code or in figures,
without distinction, by senders of all nationalities or addressed to
the same.
I have to request that you will be good enough to inform me what
means you propose to adopt to hasten the reopening of communication,
and to be kind enough to advise me of the probable date of the
reopening of the cable for service.
I have, etc.,
