No. 217.
Mr. Morgan to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

No. 502.]

Sir: The Mexican Congress opened its regular session on the 16th instant. I transmit herewith a copy and translation of the Presidents message. It is a carefully prepared and able document. The difficulties [Page 398] between Mexico and Guatemala, it is stated, bid fair to be amicably adjusted.

The convention between the United States and Mexico for the reciprocal passing of troops of either nation across the Rio Grande, when in pursuit of hostile Indians, is announced; as also the convention for the appointment of a commission to replace the boundary marks between Mexico and the United States which have been destroyed or removed. And he cites as evidence of the friendly disposition of the United States towards this country the fact that the present administration has notified the Government of Guatemala that the President would not offer to mediate in the question of boundary with Mexico unless with the previous request of both parties; and the consent of the United States Government to the reopening of two cases decided by the mixed commission, in which, as he says, injustice had been done to Mexico.

That the best harmony exists between the federal government and the States, although he notices some political disturbances in the States of Jalisco and Zacatecas, the first of which has been settled and the second soon will be. That peace and personal security is enjoyed throughout the country.

That the progress of international improvement has been constant and remarkable; noticing that the Central Railroad Company has completed its line to Leon, when it had only contracted to do so by the 31st December, 1882, as well as the line from El Paso to Chihuahua; that instead of 400 kilometers which it had agreed to complete every two years, more than double the work had been accomplished, and that they had now more than 900 kilometers in operation, from which, judging by the past, it may be expected that they will complete their contract long before the time agreed upon. That the “Nation Construction Company” were operating about 500 kilometers of road; the Sonora Company, 300 kilometers; the road from Mexico to “Los Reyes é Isolo,” and from that point to Pueblo, 96 kilometers; the company from Altata to Culiacan, 52; and the San Marcos, 47; in all exceeding 3,000 kilometers of road.

The forfeiture of the Tehuantepec is noticed.

The extension of telegraphic communication has increased 4,000 kilometers, giving now an extent of nearly 4,000 leagues, Mexico being now connected by wire with nearly all the nations of the globe. The effort at colonization is noticed and stated to have been reasonably successful. Uncultivated lands have been entered by 376 parties to an extent covering 294,000 hectares.

Schools of theory and practice have been established and plans are being matured for establishing industrial and metallurgy schools and for the forming of a mineral association which is to extend throughout the country.

Attention is called to the wasteful destruction of timber, and Congress is called on to pass such laws as will protect the forests.

The treasury is represented to be in a condition of prosperity heretofore unknown, the revenue collected during the fiscal year which ended on the 30th June last, having exceeded $30,000,000, of which $17,000,000 was derived from duties on imports.

The expenses of the government have been regularly met, including $8,000,000 paid in subsidies to railroad companies. All of which is at tributed to the condition of peace which the country has enjoyed during the last six years.

A commission has been established for the purpose of proposing such changes in the tariff laws as the exigencies of the trade seem to require.

The operations of the army against the Indians are extolled, and mention [Page 399] is made of the acknowledgment thereof by our Secretary of War and the General of the Army.

The message concludes by expressing the belief that if the affairs of the country continue to prosper in the future as they have during the last few years, that the Mexican people in the year 1921 will celebrate the centennial of their independence with the same legitimate pride that the people of the United States celebrated theirs in 1876.

I am, sir, &c.,

P. H. MORGAN.