The threat of war between the two countries had been averted through negotiations, but the time and place of the surrender of the "Virginius" and the remaining crew remained undetermined for several days. On December 5, Fish and Polo signed an agreement that "Virginius", with the US flag flying, would be turned over to the US Navy on December 16 at the port of Bahía Honda. Sickles, having lost the confidence of Grant and Fish, resigned on December 20, 1873. On January 6, 1874, after advice from Fish on a replacement for Sickles, Grant appointed eminent attorney and Spanish scholar Caleb Cushing as Minister to Spain.