No. 586.
Señor Mendez de
Vigo to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of Spain at Washington,
Washington, April 26,
1880.
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of His
Catholic Majesty, referring to the conference which he had the pleasure
to have this morning with Mr. John Hay, has the honor herewith to
transmit to the honorable Secretary of State of the United States a copy
of a royal order, bearing date of the 27th of May last, which he has
just received from his government, with instructions to communicate it
to the Washington cabinet.
The undersigned begs the Hon. William M. Evarts, if, as he confidently
hopes, the President shares the view of the Spanish Government, whose
sole object is the avoidance of those conflicts of jurisdiction which
frequently occur in the case of collisions of vessels carrying different
[Page 932]
flags, to be pleased so to
inform the undersigned, who gladly avails himself of this occasion once
more to reiterate to him the assurances of his very high
consideration.
[Inclosure.]
The minister of state
to the minister plenipotentiary of His Catholic
Majesty at Washington
Most Excellent Sir: The conflicts of
jurisdiction in the decision of cases of injury done to vessels by
collisions on the high seas has for a long time called for the
adoption of an international arrangement by maritime nations, and it
might be well, perhaps, to extend this arrangement to the few
nations that are not maritime, so far as cargoes are concerned.
The same is the case with collisions in waters under the jurisdiction
of any country; for, although all ought to submit to the
jurisdiction of that country, they often refuse to do so.
This necessity is further shown by various publicists, who declare
the need of a .general arrangement on this as on many other points
of international law; and our ministry of marine, by a royal order
of the 4th instant, takes the initiative in a way which does it
honor, proposing that the maritime powers of Europe and America be
invited to a congress, of delegates from them all, at such place as
may be designated, for the purpose of agreeing, if possible, upon
some common legislation as regards proceedings for the settlement of
these disasters at sea (which are so frequent among vessels carrying
different flags), including cases occurring both on the high seas
and in the territorial waters of the powers represented.
By royal order, &c.
