No. 749.
Mr. Bayard
to Mr. Connery.
Washington, November 7, 1887.
Sir: I inclose for your information a copy of a letter from the secretary of the Pacific Mail Steam ship Company, dated the 31st ultimo, to the effect that the agent of the Marquis de Campo was on his way to Mexico to make a contract with that Government for the Spanish Central American line of steamers between San Francisco and Panama, and to obtain, if possible, a differential duty of 5 per cent, in favor of that line.
In this connection attention is invited to the Department’s Nos. 145 and 147 of August 3 and 12, 1887, concerning the complaint of this Government against the States of Central America for having discriminated unfavorably against American commercial interests through their contracts with the Spanish line of steamers spoken of.
Recently, however, in view of the urgent remonstrances of Mr. Henry C. Hall, United States minister at Guatemala City, against this unjust action on the part of those States, there is a prospect of a favorable result, and that our vessels in those ports will be granted the same rebate as may be extended to others; and it would be much to be regretted if this Government were to receive a less measure of friendly and equitable treatment in this regard from Mexico than from the Central American States.
You will take occasion to present the friendly remonstrance of this Government to the minister for foreign affairs of Mexico against any measure which discriminates against our commercial interests in this regard.
I am, etc.,