The Duke de Arcos to Mr. Hay.
Washington, December 20, 1899.
Mr. Secretary: Herewith I have the honor to transmit to you, indorsed to your name, a first of exchange No. 113502, drawn by Luis Roy Sobrino, of Madrid, for the sum of $28,500 upon the Riggs National Bank of Washington, and a check, No. 48, for a like sum, $28,500, drawn to your order under my signature, and likewise upon the Riggs National Bank of Washington, which sums represent the amount of the interest of the debt growing out of the convention signed on the 17th of February, 1834, between Spain and the United States for the payment of the claims of American citizens from the 22d day of February, 1819.
The two sums of $28,500 which I have the honor to transmit to you represent the annual payments of 1898 and 1899, the Government of [Page 713] His Majesty having in this way fulfilled an obligation which the events of 1898 heretofore made it impossible to discharge.
I beg you to be pleased to send me the formal receipts in the usual way, and I improve this occasion to repeat to you the assurances of my highest consideration.