No. 265.
Mr. Fish to Mr. Cushing.
Washington, August 15, 1874.
Sir: Your dispatch No. 60, inclosing a copy of the reply of the minister of state to your note on the subject of General Burriel, is received.
It is satisfactory to know that the information previously communicated to this Department, concerning the repeal of the decree issued on the 24th of March, 1869, by General Dulce was correct, and that the government of Spain in no way supports the statement of General Burriel that the massacre of the passengers, officers, and crew of the Virginius was authorized by the terms of a decree in force in the island of Cuba. It may be that it affords an advantage to the United States on this question to regard the conduct of General Burriel simply as an incident of the capture of the Yirginius, but every delay on the part of the Spanish government, in taking ground against the acts of General Burriel, so justly complained of, and in visiting upon him the displeasure of his own government, is unsatisfactory and is to be regretted.
In the opinion of the President the time has come when the government of Spain should no longer delay the consideration and adjustment of these questions.
I am, &c.,