Mr. Harvey to the Duke de Soulé.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the reception of your note of the 28th instant, stating that the subject of a representation made by me on the 18th instant had been referred to a general council of the customs, and is now under deliberation.
It is proper for me to observe in this connexion, in order that the council of customs may fully consider all the bearings of the question, that if the decision of the authorities at Loando be sustained, the government of the United States will be constrained, in self-defence, to apply an equally rigid rule to the productions and merchandise of Portugal which now enter into the trade between the two countries.
The forced technical construction of the treaty by the authorities at Loando differs from the interpretation and practice heretofore adopted at the same place, and not only divests the certificates of Portuguese consuls of any substantial value, but attempts also to deprive American commerce of the benefits which it is entitled to enjoy under the treaty, and which have not been disputed until now.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.
His Excellency the Duke de Soulé, Minister of Foreign Affairs.