Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Third Session of the Fortieth Congress
Mr. Morrell to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith copies and translations of the correspondence relative to the visit of the Prussian steam sloop of war Augusta to the bay of Limon, and its object. The documents consist of the letter of Captain Kinderling to the Prussian consul residing here, with translation, marked respectively No. 1 and No. 2; the letter of the consul to the Costa Rica government, with translation, marked respectively No. 3 and No. 4; the reply of Secretary Volio, with translation, marked respectively No. 5 and No. 6; and my letter to the secretary, soliciting the copies, with translation of his reply, marked No. 7. These documents fully explain themselves.
I submit this correspondence without remark, merely observing that the refusal to accede to the solicitation so flatteringly presented may be accounted for by the pointed allusion to the Monroe doctrine, the principles of which are declared to be “acknowledged by all America,” which is sufficiently significant.
I have the honor to remain, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
P. S.—I deem it proper to advise our representatives in the other Central American states of this affair by this mail, and by the next will send them copies of the correspondence.
Respectfully,
A. M.
Captain Kinderling to Mr. Lahmann.
Hon Sir: I have the honor to make the following communication:
Among other instructions given me by his Majesty’s admiralty, all of which contemplate the protection of North German commerce of his Majesty the King of Prussia’s North German subjects, is also that of examining the port of Limon, on the coast of the republic of Costa Rica, in order to ascertain whether it possesses all those requisites that his Majesty’s government may deem desirable to establish there a depot for their West India naval station. This has been the motive of my visit to Limon, which port I surveyed minutely, reconnoitering likewise its environs; nor did I hesitate to go up to the interior and across the whole country, so as to obtain all necessary information, since a port is useless without the possibility of communicating with the interior. The result of my investigation is, on the whole, favorable to the object in view. It is true, the bay of Limon at present is nothing more than a roadstead, partially sheltered by a point of land, a coral reef, and a small island; however, its condition is altogether such that, with a comparatively small outlay it can be turned into a good port, far better, for instance, than Colon, (Aspinwall,) the present intermedium of the whole transit between [Page 328] the two oceans. Neither is there, for the time being, a road between Limon and the interior; a dense forest, lofty mountains, and many small rivers, still divide the Atlantic coast from the cultivated part of the country. Still, as I crossed this region, I became satisfied that it is an easy task to open a road from the higher table lands to the coast, inasmuch as the greatest difficulty, the crossing the mountains, is already overcome. All the part of the road already made is graded nearly on an equal level, winding gradually down the slopes of the hills; almost the only part wanting in that which crosses the forest, where the only labor will be to clear away the wood by felling and burning the trees.
Taking all these circumstances into consideration, I cannot but recommend to his Majesty’s government the bay of Limon as a proper place for erecting a depot.
But an immediate consequence of my instructions and mission, and a duty to be necessarily derived from them, is that of securing, if possible, to his Majesty’s government the means of subsequent negotiation; for otherwise, my reports, however favorable, would be illusive and useless. My motive for expressing this opinion is, that I am perfectly aware that at this very moment an effort is being made to secure to other parties the use of the port of Limon, under one pretense or another.
Therefore I claim your good offices, as the lepresentative of Prussia, in order to present to this supreme government a request that they will agree to consider themselves as bound, with regard to the port of Limon, for a term of six months from the 1st of June next; in this sense, that they will consent not to make any contract with any foreign government or private company before the expiration of the term I have specified, namely, before the 1st of December next.
I need not dwell on the advantages Costa Rica must derive from a more intimate connection with Prussia, these being perfectly understood by this supreme government. I shall, also, strictly abstain from taking any political view of the question; for a formal treaty can only be agreed to with some diplomatic representative of the North German Confederacy, invested with full powers for the purpose.
It is hardly probable that any formal objection will be raised against my request, since I present it through your medium, Mr. Consul; and, as I have stated before, it must be considered as agreeing with my instructions and a necessary consequence of the same.
I would respectfully beg you to communicate this note to Don Julian Volio, minister of foreign affairs, and remain, Mr. Consul, your most obedient servant,
J. Fredr. Lahmann, Esq., His Majesty the King of Prussia’s consul.
Mr. Lahmann to Señor Volio.
Honorable Sir: His Majesty the King of Prussia’s steam sloop of war Augusta cast anchor in the bay of Limon on the 10th of April last. Her commander, Captain Kin-derling, R. N., has received various instructions from the admiralty of the North Ger-man Confederacy, and, among others, that of visiting the coasts of the Carribean Sea in search of some port whose situation and conditions might be turned to account as a depot and station for the North German navy, it being the intention of his government to establish several naval depots and stations in different parts of the world, and one of these in the sea of the Antilles. This government having kindly invited Captain Kinderling, he is now in this capital, as you are aware. He has found the bay and port of Limon very well adapted to the object in view; and, taking into consideration the geographical situation of Costa Rica, the peaceable character and industry of her inhabitants, the circumstance of a road having been planned and even begun, leading from the interior to said bay, and finally, the prosperous future such advantages must secure to the country, he considers himself justified in recommending to his government the port above mentioned, and also the expediency of negotiating with the supreme government of Costa Rica for a grant in said port.
Captain Kinderling considers that all his surveys, and all the trouble he has taken, would be thrown away did he not succeed in obtaining from the supreme government of Costa Rica an assurance that they will not bind themselves to any other governrnent, company, or private party for the use of said port, with the object above specified, until his report reaches Berlin, where his government will weigh and consider the reasons he adduces, and will, in all probability, be prompted by them to open negotiations with [Page 329] Costa Rica for a grant of said port for the purpose of establishing there a naval depot and station.
I have the honor to inclose the original communication directed to me by Captain Kinderling, who commissions me to ask your kind mediation in obtaining from the supreme government of Costa Rica a term of six months from the 1st of June next, to insure sufficient time for dispatching and receiving a reply to his reports to his government about Port Limon and Costa Rica generally; it being understood that, during the term mentioned, the government of Costa Rica shall bind itself not to enter into any engagement respecting Port Limon, as far as concerns the use it is intended to make of it as a depot and station for the navy of the North German Confederacy.
I hardly need expatiate, upon the advantages Costa Rica would derive from a treaty such as the one in view, for you, Mr. Minister, are better able than myself to appreciate them fully. For the present I shall, therefore, remain satisfied with requesting your best interest in obtaining from the supreme government the term required, and improve this opportunity to subscribe myself, Mr. Minister, your humble servant,
Hon. Don Julian Volio, Minister of Foreign Affairs, San José,
Señor Volio to Mr. Lahmann.
Sir: I have given due consideration to your esteemed dispatch of 1st instant, in which you are pleased to communicate the result of the surveys made by Captain Kinderling, commanding his Prussian Majesty’s sloop-of-war Augusta, in the bay of Limon, on the Atlantic coast of this republic, in order to ascertain whether said port unites all those conditions which may appear desirable to his Majesty’s government for establishing there the depot of their West India naval station. You, at the same time, express the request that this government should consent to enter into no arrangements, either with any foreign government or any private company, with respect to the bay of Limon, for six months dated from 1st June, 1868, in order to insure time sufficient for a commission of the North German Confederacy, invested with full powers to come here and negotiate for a concession in said port. I am instructed by the President of the republic to answer, that, although Costa Rica would most assuredly derive great material advantages from the establishment of a naval station in any of her ports, principally on her north coast, still her traditional policy, agreeing with those principles acknowledged by all America, and, above all, with the peculiar circumstances of her situation, forbids her to make special concessions to any government whatever, however great her sympathy for the same, and however completely secured her independence and political autonomy may be.
In our present condition any deviation from the inflexible rule we have bound ourselves to follow, namely, to grant equally to all nations that honor us with their friendship, without distinction or privilege of any kind, such advantages as they justly demand, both for their commerce and countrymen, would create complications that we must avoid, even at the expense of delaying that progress we so anxiously covet.
Such being the case, there is no danger of this government granting any exclusive privilege to any other government, neither during the six months you demand, nor within a longer period, whatever the advantages tendered in return.
But as the spirit of private enterprise in Prussia might need for its development either the use of the bay of Limon, or of part of the public lands, or of some navigable river in this country, nothing prevents that, during the term of six months asked by Captain Kinderling, some private company should be formed, with the object of improving the port, or building a road to the interior, or some other work useful to this republic, with the assurance that, if the conditions set forth are acceptable, all lawful privileges required shall be granted; and, in the meanwhile, this government shall consider itself bound to negotiate with no other company during said term of six months.
Trusting that my answer will prove satisfactory to you, I have the honor to remain, sir, your obedient servant,
J. Fredr. Lahmann, Esq., Prussian Consul, San José.
Mr. Morrell to Señor Volio.
Sir: I would respectfully solicit copies of the correspondence between the Prussian consul and this government in relation to the proposed establishment of a naval station by the North German Confederation in the bay of Limon, for the purpose of transmitting the same to the State Department of the United States.
Please accept, Mr. Secretary, the assurance of my high consideration.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. Julian Volio, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, San José.
Señor Volio to Mr. Morrell.
Sir: In reply to your esteemed communication of the 6th instant, I do myself the honor to inclose copies of the correspondence exchanged between this department of state and the Prussian consul, in reference to a special concession solicited for establishing a naval station in the bay of Limon.
As no private character attaches to this affair, I think you are free to make of this correspondence such use as you may deem proper.
Accept the assurance of the particular regard of your obedient servant,
Arthur Morrell, Esq., United States Consul, San José.