Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Thirty-ninth Congress

[Translation.]

Señor Romero to Mr. Seward

Mexican Legation in the United States of America, Washington, October 8, 1866.

Mr. Secretary: Referring to the note which I addressed to your department on the 3d of May last, relating to certain duties collected at Acapulco from citizens of the United States by General Don Diego Alvarez, governor of the State of Guerrero, I have now the honor to remit to you a copy of a note from Mr. Lerdo de Tejada, minister for foreign relations of the Mexican republic, dated at Chihuahua, the 6th September last, marked No. 428, with which a copy was sent me of a communication from the minister of finance and public credit of the same date, transcribing a despatch from General Alvarez, dated the 1st June last, in which he expresses the reasons for which he thinks it necessary to reserve, until the port of Acapulco may be evacuated by the enemy, the report required from him on that incident.

I gladly avail myself of this occasion to renew to you, Mr. Secretary, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.

M. ROMERO.

Hon. William H. Seward, &c., & c., & c.

No. 1.

[Translation.]

No. 428.]

Department of Foreign Relations and Government, Chihuahua, September 6, 1866.

I send you a copy annexed of a communication from the minister of finance of this date, in which he transcribes that which was addressed to him on the 1st June by the governor of the State of Guerrero, setting before him the reasons why he thought it necessary to reserve, until the port of Acapulco was unoccupied by the enemy, the report called for from him respecting the exaction from some American citizens of payment of duties of customs which they had already paid to the French commanders during their anterior stay at that port.

Please give account of this communication to the Hon. Mr. Seward; in it the circumstances are indicated which delayed the information sought for.

I express to you my most respectful consideration.

LERDO DE TEJADA.

Citizen Matias Romero, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister of the Mexican Republic.

No. 2.

[Translation.]

Department of Finance and Public Credit, Chihuahua, September 6, 1866.

The governor and military commander of the State of Guerrero says to me, under date of 1st June last, as I copy:

“Your despatch of 11th April is received, in which you request this government to report what was the cause of deciding that some American citizens should pay again the duties they had already satisfied with the French authorities during their stay in Acapulco. I have the honor to say, in reply, that as soon as that port may be left unoccupied by the enemy I will send the report in question, because it is not proper to the public service to send it now, because there is no security that the correspondence may reach the point intended, as perhaps it would fall into the enemy’s hands, which I think it prudent to avoid, because there is in question a matter which may commit persons who are living there, which I transcribe to you for your information.

IGLESIAS.

The Minister of Foreign Relations.

A true copy:

JUAN VALDEZ, Principal Officer.