Andrews to General O. M. Björnstjerna, April 15, 1873

No. 434. Mr. Andrews to Mr. Fish.

Sir: On the evening of the 11th instant I had the honor to receive your No. 128 of the 22d ultimo and inclosures relative to securing the co-operation of Sweden and Norway in procuring a modification of Cuban tariff laws; and on the day following I sent to the foreign office a note, of which the inclosed is a copy, together with one printed copy of your dispatch and accompanying memorandum of March 21, to the United States minister at Madrid.

Another copy of the last-mentioned document having been received with the next day’s mail, I to-day handed it in person to the minister of foreign affairs, believing he would like to send it to Norway.

In course of our conversation he said there having been two (Easter) holidays, my note, just laid on his table, had not received his attention. I briefly stated what the practices were which we wished modified, and the remedy that was proposed. He replied that Swedish vessels had suffered many hardships from the ignorance of Spanish revenue officers, especially in their enforcing strict quarantine against such vessels, whenever there was cholera in St. Petersburg. In conclusion he said, “We will gladly do all we can to assist you in this matter.”

I am, &c.,