No. 296.
Mr. Hamlin
to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Legation of
the United States,
Madrid, October 12, 1882.
(Received Nov. 6.)
No. 101.]Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the reception
of Mr. Hunter’s instruction No. 95, relating to the exaction by the Spanish
consul at New Orleans often cents per ton on all the cargo carried by a
vessel from that port to Havana.
This is in all respects precisely like the cases which were presented to His
Catholic Majesty’s Government in my note of the 7th January last, a copy of
which accompanied my No. 10. It is also in substance and in principle the
same as the case set forth in instructions Nos. 94 and 97.
Having presented the argument to His Catholic Majesty’s Government in my note
above referred to (7th January), and in my note of the 26th September, in
regard to the case named in instructions Nos. 94 and
[Page 486]
97 (a copy of which note accompanies my No. 100), I
did not deem it necessary to repeat the argument in this case, but presented
it in a brief note to the minister of state, a copy of which is herewith
inclosed for your information.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure in No 101.]
Mr. Hamlin to the
Marquis de la Vega de
Armijo.
Legation of the United States,
Madrid, September 29,
1882.
Excellency: Referring to my note of the 26th
instant, relating to the extra charge of forty cents per head levied and
collected by the Spanish consul at Key West, Florida, on all cattle
shipped by American citizens to the Island of Cuba, and to the ten cents
per ton levied and collected by Spanish consuls in the ports of the
United States on the cargoes of vessels clearing for Spanish ports, I
have now the honor to inform your excellency that I have received from
my government a further instruction relating to the last mentioned
charge, exacted by the Spanish consul at New Orleans on the cargo of a
vessel belonging to an American line of steamers recently cleared from
that port for Havana.
As the facts presented in my notes of the 7th January last and of the
26th instant equally apply to this case, it is not necessary for me, at
this time, to further argue the question, but I may be permitted to add
that this latter complaint, together with others that are constantly
being presented to the Departmens of State at Washington, will further
show to your excellency how very objectionable and offensive these extra
charges are to the merchants and shippers of the United States, as well
as to my government; and it, therefore, confidently relies upon the
prompt action His Catholic Majesty’s Government to do away with these
charges, and to return, in this latter case, the amount which has been
demanded and collected by the Spanish consul at New Orleans.
I gladly avail myself of this occasion to renew to your excellency,
&c.,
