Office of the Historian

Mr. Plumb to Mr. Seward

No. 35.]
Legation of the United States, City of Mexico, November 20, 1867.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the instructions given by the treasury department of Mexico to the collector at Guaymas, with reference to the permission conceded by this government in Mr. Lerdo de Tejada’s note of the 26th ultimo, for the introduction at the port of Guaymas and the conveyance in transit by land of United States army supplies destined for Arizona.

A copy of the note of Mr. Lerdo de Tejada, enclosing to me said instructions, is also annexed hereto.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. L. PLUMB.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

[Page 481]
[Translation.]

Señor Lerdo de Tejada to Mr. Plumb

Department of Foreign Relations, Mexico, November 19, 1867.

Sir: I have the honor to send you a copy of the instructions given by the department of finance to the collector of the customs at the port of Guaymas about the permission referred to by me in my note of 26th October last, for the introduction through the port of Guaymas and carrying in transit by land provisions and effects which the government of the United States may destine for their armies in Arizona.

I avail of the occasion to repeat to you, sir, the assurances of my distinguished consideration.

S. LERDO DE TEJADA.

Mr. Edward Lee Plumb, Chargé d’ Affaires of the U. S. of America in Mexico.

[Translation.]

The citizen President of the republic, in the exercise of the full powers with which he has been invested, has pleased to accede to the application of the government of the United States of America, presented by its charge d’affaires at this capital, that he would permit the free transit of provisions and effects of the said government which may be imported through the port of Guaymas, destined for the army of the United States in Arizona.

For the better comprehension of the antecedent concession, I send you a copy of the official note, which for such purpose was addressed through the department of foreign relations to the chargé d’affaires of the United States of America at this capital; and in order to avoid abuses which might be committed by persons strangers to that government, you will have to take the following precautions:

1. On arrival of the effects at the port, they will be deposited in the public warehouses belonging to the districts.

2. When on the way to their destination the packages shall be sealed, and the route being fixed upon, you may give the correspondent permit.

3. That the route indicated may be followed out, the officers on the transit will care that the proper documents are filed, and the last, that on the frontier, will issue the correspondent return.

4. The provisions or effects to which this order relates shall come covered by a document issued by the collector of the customs at that port in the United States from which they come, expressing that they belong to the government of the United States, and the object for which they are sent.

This requisite will be exacted from the 1st of April of next year, and if before that date there shall reach this port some vessels with effects in transit to Arizona, upon affidavit sworn to, and with the precautions mentioned in the third preliminary, transit to the final destination may be permitted, making return thereof to this department.

5. After the 1st of April of next year, effects which may arrive without the requisite spoken of in the fourth proviso, shall be kept in deposit in the public warehouse until report is made to the supreme government, that it may decide what is proper to be done.

All which I communicate to you according to superior orders for your information and more exact compliance.

Independence and liberty!

Mexico, October 30, 1867.

(In consequence of sickness of the citizen minister,)
JUAN TORRES.

The Collector of the Customs (maritime) at Guaymas.