[Extract.]
Mr. Prevost to Mr. Seward.
No. 11.]
Legation of the United States,
Guayaquil,
May 13, 1866.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit to your
excellency copy of the reply of Mr. Bustamente, the minister of exterior
relations of Ecuador, in answer to my protest, marked A, with an
accompanying translation of the same into English, marked B.
* * * * * * *
Under the existing circumstances, the matter must now rest until I can
receive especial instructions from the hands of your excellency.
Awaiting such instructions, I have the honor, sir, to remain, your
obedient servant,
L. V. PREVOST, Acting Secretary of
Legation.
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
B.
[Translation.]
Mr. Bustamente to Mr. Seward.
I have the honor to transmit to you a certified copy of the despatch
of this day’s date, which the honorable secretary of the treasury
has sent to me, relative to the claim for the payment of the first
instalment stipulated by the mixed commission.
I avail myself of this occasion to reiterate to you the assurances,
&c.
[Untitled]
Republic of Ecuador, Treasury
Department,
Quito,
April 25, 1866.
Sir: The claim made upon this department
for the first instalment of the American creditors, which should
have been paid upon the 17th of February last to Mr L. V. Prevost,
consul, and in charge of the legation of the United States of
America, is right and proper,
[Page 468]
and in order to fulfil it I have written this
day to the governor of Guayas, instructing him to make arrangements
for its payment in the months of July and August, in which the
change of season will give place to the introduction of merchandise
that may produce custom-duties, and the excise upon salt may cause
sales for the consumption of the interior towns, which, in those
months, assemble to purchase it.
The notorious paralyzation of these branches, which constitute the
principal revenue of the State, have not allowed the government to
pay in time the reclaimed dividend with the desired punctuality; and
it is on this account that I have felt myself under the necessity of
giving the order in the terms indicated.
According to the law of the treasury, which governs the matter, the
payments should be made by presentation of the documents of credit.
Mr. Prevost should present the certificates issued by the
commissioners, so that the treasurer may note the amounts paid on
account.
May God preserve, &c.
The Honorable Secretary of Interior
and of Foreign Affairs.
The above is a true copy:
C.
Mr. Prevost to Mr. Bustamente.
United States Legation,
Guayaquil,
May 13, 1866.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your excellency’s despatch, under date of 25th April
last, a copy of which I shall at once transmit to the honorable the
Secretary of State at Washington.
I deem it my duty to remark to your excellency that the law of the
treasury of Ecuador which compels the production of a document of
credit to the treasurer as a voucher or proof of debt against the
government, cannot govern the present case, because a special
convention between the two nations has been entered into for the
purpose, wherein it is stipulated in article III “se pagara al gobierno de que dependan los reclamantes.”
The government of your’ excellency must have received from the
commissioner on the part of Ecuador the names of the claimants, with
their respective amounts, which should be furnished to the
treasurer.
I avail myself of this occasion to reiterate to your excellency,
&c.
Hon. Manuel Bustamente,
Minister of Exterior Relations,
Quito.
