Mr. Rockhill to Mr. Williams.
Washington, September 12, 1895.
Sir: In reply to your No. 2580 of the 27th ultimo, in regard to the eases of the American citizens Julio Sanguily and José Maria Timoteo Aguirre, has been unavoidably deferred by pressure of business, but the telegraphic instruction to you of September 3 will show that the Department has urgently endeavored to protect the interest of these persons.
I inclose herewith for your further information a copy of a letter from Mr. Manuel Sanguily, the brother of Julio, calling attention to the [Page 784] facts already known to the Department and to yourself, which constitute the peculiar hardship of his case, and the Department’s reply thereto.
In the light of the prompt acquittal by military process of Sanguily’s supposed accomplice in the act of kidnaping of which they stand charged, the continual detention of Mr. Sanguily for the purpose of prosecuting that charge against him in the civil way is quite inexplicable, and appears to work a wrong of which this Government feels it may properly take notice. The conventional agreement between the United States and Spain entitles our citizens to be promptly heard upon any charge of wrongdoing and to be afforded instant and abundant opportunity to prove their innocence and obtain simple justice in the civil courts of Cuba, with every guaranty of defense known to Spanish procedure. Your own dispatches indicate that you appreciate this and are earnestly endeavoring to advance the interests of Mr. Sanguily, and it is not doubted you will continue to do so until a final and satisfactory result is reached.
I am, etc.,