| Content Description | Reports that at the 1857 conference at Copenhagen, the Spanish Government protested against Spain being held responsible for any part of the dues levied on imports to the Baltic Ports from Cuba; the matter has now nearly been agreed; in 1861 Spain will pay the capital of their quota for dues levied on the direct trade between Cuba and the Baltic, with 4% interest on the amount from the date of the Treaty; discusses further stipulations; there was also a secret article in the convention giving Spain a pre-emptive right over her West Indian Colonies should they be sold to the U.S.A.; Spain wished for an engagement from Denmark never to sell her colonies to the U.S.A.; Mr Collantes proposed that Denmark should give Spain a preferential right to purchase her colonies, as a condition of paying Spanish debts to Denmark.
He [Buchanan] believes that Spain is motivated by a desire to prevent the U.S.A. from purchasing the Danish West Indian Colonies and thus setting a precedent for the acquisition of Cuba; however he still believes that Spain has shown a "want of honour and honesty." |