CURRENT INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

COMMUNICATION WITH

SPAIN

Miccosukee Seminole Nation (MSN)
Sends Buckskin Communication to His Excellency 

the Premier of Spain
General Francisco Franco

BUCKSKIN TEXT

THE EVERGLADES

TO HIS EXCELLENCY
THE PRIMIER OF SPAIN
FRANCISCO FRANCO

THE SOVEREIGN MICCOSUKEE SEMINOLE NATION, FORMALLY CALLED BY YOU TALAPUCHEES, OR KRIKES BAJOS, CONVEYS TO YOU ITS GREETINGS AND REQUESTS THE ASSISTANCE OF YOUR NATION IN REQUIRING THE UNITED STATES TO DISCHARGE ITS SOLEMN OBLIGATIONS UNDER ITS TREATIES WITH YOUR NATION, WITH OTHER NATIONS, AND WITH OUR NATION.
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OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE YOUR NATION AND OURS HAVE ASSISTED EACH OTHER. THE TREATY OF PENSACOLA MADE IN 1765 AT, YOUR NATION AND OURS, PROVIDES FOR MUTUAL COMMERCIAL INTERCOURSE AND MILITARY AID. IN ARTICLE 13 YOUR NATION GUARANTEES THE SECURITY OF OUR LANDS AND COVENANTS THAT, SHOULD WE BE DISPOSSESSED OF THEM, YOUR NATION WILL GRANT OTHERS EQUIVALENT.
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THE TREATY OF NOGALES (WALLNUT HILLS) MADE BY YOUR NATION AND OURS IN 1791, RECONFIRMS THE TREATY OBLIGATIONS MADE BETWEEN US THEREFORE AND PROVIDES THAT YOUR NATION WILL MEDIATE AND SECURE THE SETTLEMENT OF BOUNDARIES ON OUR BEHALF WITH THE UNITED STATES:
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OUR ENVOYS ARE DELIVERING TO YOU HEREWITH A COPY OF OUR BUCKSKIN DECLARATION DELIVERED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ON MARCH 1, 1954 AND A COPY OF OUR STATEMENT OF IDENTITY AND RIGHTS DATED SEPTEMBER 20, 1958, INCLUDING THE MAP PREPARED BY THE UNITED STATES TO SHOW THE BOUNDARIES AGREED TO IN 1839 UNDER THE MACOMB TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND OUR NATION.
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WE CARRIED OUT OUR TREATY OBLIGATIONS. NOW AFTER MORE THAN A CENTURY WE CALL UPON YOU TO ASSIST US IN REQUIRING THE UNITED STATES TO LIVE UP TO ITS TREATY OBLIGATIONS WITH YOUR NATION AND OURS AND TO RESPECT OUR SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORY. WE APPEAL TO YOU R NATION, UNDER ALL TREATIES, UNDER THE LAW OF NATIONS, AND UNDER JUSTICE, TO HELP US ENFORCE IN THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNALS THE SOLEMN AND BINDING OBLIGATIONS OF THESE TREATIES, WHICH THE UNITED STATES ENTERED INTO VOLUNTARILY AND WHICH IS THE BASIS OF CIVILIZATION TODAY.
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WE THEREFORE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE REPRESENTATIVES OF YOUR NATION MEET WITH OUR LEADERS, BUFFALO TIGER, HOMER OSCEOLA, HENRY NELSON PANTHER, AND SAM WILLIE. OUR NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, STILL IN THE EVERGLADES, LIE APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES WEST OF BISCAYNE BAY IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE FLORIDA PENINSULA. WE ARE WILLING TO LET THE UNITED STATES PURCHASE SOME OF OUR LANDS AND TO FORGO SOME OF OUR RIGHTS IN ENTERING INTO ANOTHER TREATY, WHICH WE HOPE THE UNITED STATES WILL RESPECT AND LIVE UP TO THIS TIME BUT WE INSIST ON PRESERVING SOME OF OUR TERRITORY AND PROTECTING IT AGAINST FURTHER AGGRESSION.
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THE URGENCY OF THIS MATTER REQUIRES PROMPT ACTION BY YOUR NATION. ANY FURTHER INTIMIDATION OF OUR CITIZENS OR OUT LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES WILL FORCE US TO TAKE OUR CAUSE TO THE UNITED NATIONS OR TO SEEK THE HELP AND PROTECTION OF THE OTHER NATIONS OF THE WORLD, EVEN THOUGH THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY TREATIES WITH US AS YET.

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BELIEVE US,
YOUR SINCERE FRIENDS
AND ALLIES
THE COUNCILS OF THE NATIONS

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TRANSLATED AND INTERPRETED BY:
JOHN M. OSCEOLA
WITNESSED BY:
MORTON H. SILVER
LEGAL COUNSEL