No. 929.
Mr. Lewis
to Mr. Bayard.
Sir: In reply to instructions No. 78, recalling my attention to Department instructions No. 68, December last, concerning the complaint of F. C. Butman, of Boston, alleging discrimination by the Portuguese Government against the direct trade between the United States and the Cape-Verde Islands as compared with that passing via Lisbon, I have the honor to state that immediately upon the receipt of instructions No. 68 I addressed a communication to Senhor Barros Gomez, minister of foreign affairs, dated the 2d of January, 1888, which I handed to him in person, and to which, up to the time of my departure from my post on June 7 last, I had received no written response. In a conversation I had with the minister just before my departure he informed me that the same discrimination as between Lisbon and the Cape Verde Islands was made with the vessels of the United States and those of other nations trading with the Cape Verde Islands, and that the object of the extra duties and the requirements of the reshipping of cargoes at; Lisbon was for the protection and encouragement of the Portuguese coasting trade.
In conversation which I had subsequently with the ministers to Portugal of Great Britain, Germany, and Sweden, all of which countries have a considerable trade with the Cape Verde Islands, they informed me that they had had conversations with Senhor Barros Gomez upon the same subject, and that he had informed them to the same effect, and that for the present no alterations would be made. The Portuguese Government contemplated reducing the duty mentioned by Mr. Butman from 30 to 20 per cent., but up to the time of my departure, June the 7th last, nothing had been done.
I have directed Vice and Deputy Consul-General Wilbor to forward to the State Department a copy of my dispatch to Senhor Barros Gomez upon this subject, dated January 2, 1888, which copy would have been sent long since had I not awaited a reply from Senhor Gomez.
I have, etc.,