Andrews to General O. M. Björnstjerna, April 12, 1873

Mr. Andrews to General Bjornstjerna.

Sir: In compliance with instructions from my Government, I have the honor herewith to hand you a printed copy of a dispatch of March 21, 1873, and accompanying memorandum, from the Secretary of State of the United States to their representative at Madrid, wherein he is instructed to use his best endeavors to secure a change of the tariff laws of Cuba, so that tines for errors in manifests may be imposed on goods instead of on vessels, and earnestly to request that your government will instruct its minister at Madrid to make a simultaneous if not identical application to the Spanish government in support of the desired change.

The unjust and burdensome nature of the system of tariff tines which obtains in Cuban ports is abundantly shown in the memorandum. Your excellency will notice that my Government long ago, but in vain, sought relief from the system. The fact that it is still continued seems to render it for the interest of all maritime powers, whose vessels are in the habit of trading to Cuban ports, to make a simultaneous and earnest effort to secure its prompt and just modification.

In the hope that you will lend your valuable influence for the accomplishment of this object, I beg to renew to you, sir, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.