Foreign Office to Wells Williams, July 27, 1873

Foreign Office to Mr. Williams.

The Ministers of the Foreign Office to Mr. Williams:

Having formerly heard reports that the laborers engaged by Spaniards to go to Cuba and elsewhere had been cruelly treated there, we decided to lay the whole subject before the foreign ministers for their candid opinion; and to this end furnished them with the points discussed by M. Otin, the Spanish chargé d’affaires, and Minister Wausiang, and the reply given by the latter, requesting from each of them an answer informing us whether the Chinese laborers in Cuba were or were not cruelly treated, so that thus ground could be obtained for settling the matter.

Mr Otin having again personally urged the speedy settlement of these points, it is unnecessary here to repeat the contents of the letters which passed between him and Minister Wausiang; and the special purpose of this note is, therefore, simply to request that you would inform us whether the Chinese laborers who have been taken to Cuba are, so far as you can ascertain, cruelly treated or not.

An early answer will be anxiously looked for.

Compliments, &c., with cards of seven ministers.