Mr. Williams to Mr.
Adee.
United
States Consulate-General,
Habana, September 12,
1895.
No. 2588.]Sir: I have the honor to submit a copy and
translation herewith of a letter addressed to me in the Spanish
language, under date of the 20th ultimo, by Mr. Julio Sanguily, in which
he says that being sick, and under arrest without reason, as he
affirmed, and desiring to be sent to the United States as soon as
possible, as was done with Carrillo, Ruiz, and Vargas, he asked me to
intercede with the Spanish authorities for his release.
[Page 780]
I likewise accompany a copy of another letter, marked private, that he
sent me in the English language with the one above mentioned, expressing
the same desire.
I must here remark, in the order of narration, that Mr. Alfredo Zayas,
the advocate of Mr. José Maria Timoteo Aguirre, called here on the
morning of the same 21st ultimo, to say to me that Mrs. Aguirre had told
him that she had heard of the intended application of Mr. Sanguily and
desired to know if a like effort could not be made by me in favor of her
husband. I responded that I was willing to try it, if so desired; and
when at a later hour the son of Mr. Sanguily brought me his father’s two
letters referred to above, and Mr. Aguirre being confined in the same
fortress near by Mr. Sanguily, and the son living with his father, I
told him that on returning there, inasmuch as Mr. Zayas had expressed
himself favorable to such an effort, to tell Mr. Aguirre if he would
apply in a letter authorizing me for the purpose, the consent of his
advocate, Mr. Zayas, being then presumably given, that I would couple my
effort in favor of Sanguily with another for him.
Accordingly, I called at 4 p.m., on the same 21st ultimo, on the Acting
Governor-General Arderius, and after a most cordial reception I informed
him of the object of my visit, which was to solicit, informally, for
Messrs. Sanguily and Aguirre, if it was within his attributions, the
quashment of the proceedings against them and their departure to New
York. General Arderius then answered me in the same sense that Gen.
Martinez Campos had replied to me on a previous occasion of which I had
availed myself incidentally to speak to him against the delay of the
examination proceedings in these two cases, and in favor of their early
termination and submissions to the higher or trial court—that is, he
answered that the cases were then beyond the attributions of his
military jurisdiction and were under the civil jurisdiction; but he
added that he would speak to the prosecuting attorney of His Majesty,
and to the chief justice of the superior court of Habana, to see if a
similar solution could be given to these cases as was given to that of
Carrillo and others, who had been expelled on the grounds of being
dangerous aliens, instead of subjecting them to trial. In this visit I
showed the original letter of Mr. Sanguily in the Spanish language to
General Arderius as proof of his application to this office, which I
assured him had been made with the knowledge and consent of Mr. Viondi,
his advocate. The general then asked me for a copy of it, and I promised
to send it to him just as soon as I returned to the office, and did so,
accompanying it by an unofficial note, copy of which is herewith
inclosed, together with another of Sanguily’s said letter of the 20th
ultimo.
On the following day, the 22d, I also sent him an unofficial note, with
copy of Aguirre’s letter.
In these efforts to accomplish the desires of Messrs. Sanguily and
Aguirre, I visited General Arderius several times. In each visit
something was gained in the direction of expediting the case of Aguirre,
against whom the general told me there was only one charge, that of
attempt of rebellion. He also told me that he would see if the delay in
waiting for the answer to the commissions sent by the court for the
taking of evidence in both cases in Spain could be obviated. But he
added that he had understood there was a good deal more charged against
Sanguily, and his case, therefore, did not offer the prospect of so
speedy a termination as was observable with that of Aguirre.
[Page 781]
At this stage of my efforts I received another letter from Mr. Sanguily,
dated the 29th ultimo, in which he has not only attempted to shuffle on
to me or on the authorities the origination of the suggestion of his
solicitation, but he has also assumed the right to censure and instruct
me.
The origin of his request to me is stated in the accompanying letter of
Mr. Adolph Sanchez Dolz, the deputy consul-general, who communicated to
me the request of Mr. Sanguily on delivering me his receipt for the
$150, subject of my dispatch No. 2570 of the 17th ultimo. The reputation
of the deputy consul-general for veracity has never yet been questioned
to my knowledge. And it was because of this unwarranted assumption of
Mr. Sanguily that I telegraphed you on the 4th instant, referring to
your telegraphic instruction of the day before, that—
Sanguily suggested and with the knowledge and consent of his
advocate addressed a letter to this office soliciting its
informal intervention for his release and embarkation, but I
know of no petition preferred by him on suggestion of the
authorities that it would secure his release. Will send copies
of correspondence.
Apprehending from your words—
Of disregard of petition prefered by him on suggestion of
authorities that it would secure his release—
that a misrepresentation had been made to the
Department.
Notwithstanding, I have continued my efforts in favor of both these
American citizens, the last time with Gen. Martinez Campos, who
meanwhile had returned to Habana, as his accompanying private note of
the 5th instant will show, informing me that Aguirre had been released
and that Sanguily’s case will be heard soon. I have since learned that
the indictment against Sanguily of rebellion has been sent to the upper
court for trial, and the remaining one, that of accomplice in the
kidnaping of the sugar planter, Mr. Fernandez de Castro, is being
expedited.
I am, etc.,
Ramon O. Williams,
Consul-General.
[Inclosure 1 in No.
2588.—Translation.]
Mr. Julio
Sanguily to Mr. Williams.
Fortress Cabala, August 20, 1895.
Dear Sir: Sick and under arrest in this
fortress without reason, I desire to be sent as soon as possible to
the United States. My case is identical with those of Carrillo,
Ruiz, and Vargas, and I only ask what was granted them.
In this sense I address you the present, begging you to obtain from
the Spanish Government my transfer to the United States, and
anticipating my thanks, I remain,
Yours, very truly,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
2588.—Private.]
Mr. Julio
Sanguily to Mr. Williams.
La
Cabaña, Tuesday,
August 20,
1895.
My Dear Friend: If you can get me to go to
the United States I’ll be very much obliged to you. Also, if you can
get me to go on Saturday next, because I want to go by Key West to
wait for my family there that will go next week. I will leave Key
West in the same steamer next week.
Yours, very truly,
[Page 782]
[Inclosure 3 in No.
2588.—Translation.—Unofficial.]
Mr. Williams to
the Acting Governor-General of
Cuba.
United States Consulate-General,
Habana, August 21, 1895.
Dear Sir and Distinguished General: With
reference to the conversation that I had the honor to hold with you
this afternoon with respect to Mr. Julio Sanguily and Mr. Jose Ma.
Timoteo Aguirre, I have now the pleasure to inclose a copy of a
letter addressed to me yesterday from Fortress Cabaña by the first
named of these gentlemen soliciting me to intercede with the
Government you so worthily represent to send him to the United
States.
I am expecting a letter in the same sense from Mr. Aguirre, copy of
which I will send you as soon as received.
I avail myself, etc.,
[Inclosure 4 in No.
2588.—Translation.—Unofficial.]
Mr. Williams to
the Acting Governor-General of
Cuba.
United States Consulate-General,
Habana, August 22, 1895.
Dear Sir and Distinguished General:
Referring to the letter I had the honor to address you yesterday
respecting Mr. Julio Sanguily, I now have the pleasure to inclose
you copy of the one that I received to-day from Mr. Jose Ma. Timoteo
Aguirre soliciting me to intercede with you to send him to the
United States.
Day after to-morrow it will be six months since Mr. Aguirre and Mr.
Sanguily have been subjected to provisional imprisonment without the
examining judge of the court of the Cerro district having yet sent
the process in either case to the upper court for trial; to which I
have to add that it is only five days ago that the judge refused the
reading (vista) of the process by the advocates of the accused, who,
moreover, inform me that the judge now proposes to send commissions
for the taking of evidence in Spain, thus prolonging the delay,
which circumstances I do not doubt the Government will take into
consideration.
I avail myself, etc.,
[Inclosure 5 in No.
2588.—Translation.]
Mr. Aguirre to
Mr. Williams.
Fortress Cabaña, August 22, 1895.
Dear Sir: As a consequence of my unjust
detention in this fortress, I have had misfortunes and sickness in
my family, and desiring to go to the United States at the earliest
possible moment, as was granted to the citizens Carrillo, Ruiz, and
Vargas, whose cases were identical with mine, I beg of you to
intercede with the Government for my transfer to the United States,
and anticipating my thanks, I remain,
Yours, etc.,
[Inclosure 6 in No.
2588.—Translation.]
Mr. Julio
Sanguily to Mr. Williams.
Fortress La Cabaña,
Thursday, August 29,
1895.
Sir: I do not know what passes. You sent to
tell me about eight days ago, to me a prisoner in a fortress, that
if I wished to recover my liberty, embarking, to write you a letter
saying so. That is to say, you awakened in me the hope, and if this
has not been with a serious purpose, a real cruelty has been
practiced. Therefore, on your expressing yourself to me as you did,
you must have had reasons for it; because you could not have
forgotten my condition as prisoner when speaking to me of
freedom.
It now turns out, according to what my lawyer writes me, that nothing
has been done and things remain the same. Then why did you offer me
my freedom and make me write you the letter I sent you?
[Page 783]
And if it is the Government that has deceived you, why do you not
exact of that Government the fulfillment of its promises? For it is
certain that without a previous agreement with the Government you
would never have taken upon yourself, from respect to my condition
of prisoner, to offer me my freedom.
I regret to say that for the moment you appear weak to my eyes.
My present position and the hopes you inspired me with, and which I
see vanished, authorize me to speak to you in this frank manner.
I believe my freedom to-day depends upon your energy, but as I can
not influence you in any sense, I limit myself to saying that you
offered me my freedom, that many days have passed since then, and
that I still remain suffering a most unjust imprisonment.
But this does not hinder me from subscribing myself your most
affectionate friend,
[Inclosure 7 in No.
2588.]
Mr. Dolz to Mr.
Williams.
United States Consulate-General,
Habana, August 30, 1895.
Sir: Referring to my visit on the 17th
instant to Mr. Julio Sanguily, imprisoned at Fortress Cabana, to
deliver him the proceeds of the draft of $150 United States currency
from Tampa, I have to say that, on returning to you the following
Monday morning the receipt signed by him in triplicate, I told you
that Mr. Sanguily had said to me that he was anxious to go at once
to his home, New York, and led me to understand that he wanted you
to intercede in his behalf with the Captain-General to have him sent
to New York, as he had done with Carrillo, Vargas, and Ruiz, which I
communicated to you on the said Monday morning.
You then told me to see him again, and say to him that if he would
write you a letter to that effect, with the consent of his lawyer,
you would try and see what you could do for him.
I am, etc.,
A. S. Dolz,
Deputy Consul-General.
[Inclosure 8 in No.
2588.—Translation.—Personal.]
General Martinez de
Campos to Mr. Williams.
The
General in Chief of the Army of Operations in
Cuba,
Habana, September 6,
1895.
My Dear Sir and Friend: As I promised you,
Aguirre has just been released; no small effort has been needed, but
I obviated all obstacles, saying that since the Betancourt was in
the insurrection it seemed to me that the issuance of rogatory
letters became unnecessary.
I take pleasure in personally informing you of the above; also that
Sanguily will be soon heard.
I avail, etc.,
Arsenio Martinez de
Campos.
