On the 6th of February the Spanish minister, Mr. Dupuy de Lome, called on the undersigned and announced that he was authorized to represent Spain in the pending negotiations and that a special representative would arrive from Cuba, under appointment of the insular government, to act as far as the interests of that island were involved.  He mentioned the name of Senor Angulo as the gentleman who had been suggested in Cuba for that appointment; but the delegate was not officially notified to this office.

On March 17 a note from the Spanish minister, Senor Polo y Bernabe, addressed, under date of the 16th instant, to the Secretary of State, was referred to this office.  In that note his excellency advised this Government of his appointment by Her Majesty the Queen Regent of Spain to conduct these negotiations, assisted by Senor Manuel Rafael Angulo as special delegate of the insular government of Cuba, who would be aided by two technical assistants, also appointed by the Cuban government; and, further, that an officer from the treasury department would be added in the same character.

His excellency announced his readiness to commence the labors of the commission so soon as the Government of the United States should formulate the general plan for carrying on the work.

Respectfully submitted, March 17, 1898.

JOHN A KASSON,

Special Commissioner Plenipotenitary.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, April 12, 1898.

To the Senate of the United States:

In response to a resolution of the Senate of the 4th instant, I inclose herewith a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, inclosing a copy of a report from the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation.

WILLIAM McKINLEY.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 9, 1898.

The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

SIR:  I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Senate resolution of April 4, directing that the Senate be informed “of the total number of human lives that were lost by the sinking of the United States battle ship Maine in Havana Harbor, Cuba, on the 15th day of February, 1898, the total number of dead bodies rescued from said ship, the total number remaining unrescued, and what effort, if any, is being made to rescue them,” and in reply thereto inclose a copy of a report from the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation covering the above inquiry.  I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully,

JOHN D. LONG, Secretary.

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY.

BUREAU OF NAVIGATION, Washington, D.C., April 8, 1898.

Number on board the U.S.S. Maine at the time of the disaster: 
Officers 26
Sailors 290
Marines 39
—–­ 355
Number saved: 
Officers