Mr. Palmer to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Madrid, December 16, 1889.
(Received December 30.)
No. 35.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose copies of two
notes, addressed to the minister of state, in pursuance of the Department’s
instructions No. 37, of the 25th ultimo, in reference to the indemnity
claimed by the Rev. E. C. Doane for his imprisonment in 1887, and to his
threatened deprivation by the governor of Ponape of the lands belonging to
his mission. I have regarded as advantageous for clearness and emphasis to
keep the two questions—the indemnity and the land—distinct from each other
by separate communications.
I have etc.,
[Page 428]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 35.]
Mr. Palmer to the
Marquis de Armijo.
Legation of the United States,
Madrid, December 13,
1889.
Excellency: When the facts of the detention and
imprisonment of the Rev. E. C. Doane, of the American missionary in the
Caroline Islands, was brought to the attention of the Spanish Government
by this legation on September 17, 1887, the expectation was expressed
that due reparation would be offered Mr. Doane for the expenses and
losses resulting from the acts of the governor of Ponape, which were
repudiated by the governor of the Philippine Islands, and disapproved by
the central government at Madrid. The note of your excellency’s
distinguished predecessor, Señor Moret, of November 8, 1887, in reply to
the note of the legation referred to above, while giving the fullest and
most satisfactory assurances as to the future regards for the rights of
Mr. Doane, deferred a definite consideration of the question of
indemnity until the decision of the courts of Manila, on certain points
of the case, should be known.
To this indemnity the attention of the Government of Her Majesty was
again called by notes of this legation of June 12 and October 4, 1888.
In the latter note the inquiry was made whether the proceedings of the
courts of Manila had not reached the stage which would permit the
question of indemnity to be considered. To this your excellency was good
enough to reply on October 6, of the same year, that the required data
had been urgently requested from the minister of the colonies, and would
be transmitted to the legation as soon as obtained.
As no further communication in reference to the indemnity has been
received, I have been instructed again to renew the inquiry as to
whether Her Majesty’s Government may not have obtained the information
necessary to enable it to afford suitable redress to Mr. Doane for the
losses he has suffered.
I avail, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 35.]
Mr. Palmer to the
Marquis de Armijo.
Legation of the United States,
Madrid, December 14,
1889.
Excellency: Referring to my note of yesterday
in reference to the idemnity to the Rev. E. C. Doane, I have also the
honor to invite the attention of your excellency to another matter
relating to the American missions in the Caroline Islands.
On January 17 last, a note was addressed to your excellency by this
legation in reference to the retention by the authorities of the
Caroline Islands of certain title deeds to the lands belonging to the
mission. Since that date the information has been received by Mr. Doane
to the effect that, in consequence of alleged defects in his title, he
is threatened by the governor of Ponape with deprivation of the lands
which he has occupied in connection with the work of the mission for
many years, and upon which expenditures have been made to a large
amount.
The particular lands upon which this attempt is made are known by the
names of Kenan and Mejiniong lands, and were given to the mission by
native chiefs, the former in 1870 and the latter in 1880.
In bringing the above facts to your excellency’s notice I am instructed
to convey to your excellency the expression of the interest which is
felt in the subject by the Government of the United States, and at the
same time to refer again to the emphatic assurances given by the Spanish
Government in the note of Señor Elduayen, October 15, 1885, repeated by
the representative of Her Majesty’s Government at Washington, in his
communication to the Secretary of State, of March 12, 1886, and
reiterated by Señor Moret in his note of November 8, 1887, to the effect
that the right and privileges of citizens of the United States, engaged
in missionary or other work in the islands in question, would in no
manner be infringed or disturbed, but on the contrary, would be
protected and secured.
I avail, etc.,
