TRANSLATION L
San Antonio, Texas, March 24th, 1928.
Sr. Don Alejandro Padilla Y Bell, Ambassador of Spain,
Washington, P. C.
Dear Sr. Ambassador:
During my absence from this city the esteemed communication of your Excellency was received answering my letters of February 25th and the 8th insto referring to the Old Spanish Trail. Your communication had the date of the 13th inst.
The gentleman of the Old Spanish Trail here was enthusiastic regarding the interest shown by your Excellency in this work and especially in the inaugural festivities of the great transcontinental highway that shall take place in the city of St. Augustine, Florida, Thursday, June 14.5.next. The program of festivities as per enclosed copy of letter from the gentleman of St. Augustine is as follows:
I.	A motorcade view of the city.
II.	Celebration and Dedication, 4 P.M.
III.	Banquet, 6 P.M., This to be union of all the service
clubs of the city and the guests. It should number 500.
The representative of Spain.shall be considered as a distinguished guest. I understand that if the Spanish Government decides to send some v/ar ships to the Florida Coast the American Navy will alsopar-
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ticipate. I take the liberty of suggesting to your Excellency the idea of sending war ships,if at all possible, would give the celebration a more fraternal character and will incidentally serve to show the American people the products of the modern Spanish naval industry.
The enclosed letters, one from:,the Managing Director of the Spanish Trail in this city, Mr. Harral Ayres, and the other -ease a copy, already alluded to above, of the gentleman of the St. Augustine Committee,
Mr. Perry Ti. Powell of St. Augustine, Florida, will give your Excellency all the information required concerning the announced celebration.
I am leaving for Mexico pretty soon and I will not be in a position to serve as a connection between your Excellency and these friends, for this reason and for greater clarity I will put at the foot-of- thj s let ter the name and addresses of the gentlemen wj th whom your Excellency may wish to be in contact in the future. No one of them speaks Spanish.
With the greatest resoect, I beg to remain
very sincerely
(Signed) pio N°riega