Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Third Session of the Fortieth Congress, Part II

Mr. Plumb to Mr. Seward.

No. 117.]

Legation of the United States, City of Mexico, April 23, 1868.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith translation of a decree issued by this government on the 21st instant, closing the port of Mazatlan to foreign and coasting trade, so long as it is withdrawn from obedience to the government.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. L. PLUMB.

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

Decree closing the Port of Mazatlan.

[From the Diario Oficial, City of Mexico, April 22, 1868.—Translation.]

Department of Treasury and Public Credit.–Section 1.

Under this date the citizen President of the republic has been pleased to address to me the following decree:

Benito Juarez, constitutional President of the United Mexican States, to the inhabitants of the same, be it known:

That, in use of the faculty conceded to me by section 14 of article 85 of the federal constitution, I have thought proper to decree the following:

Sole Article: The port of Mazatlan is declared closed to the foreign and coasting trade so long as it is withdrawn from obedience to the government.

Wherefore I order that this be printed, published, circulated, and due compliance given to it.

Dated at the palace of the federal government at Mexico, the 21st of April, 1868.

BENITO JUAREZ.

The Citizen Matias Romero, Minister of Treasury and Public Credit.

And I communicate the same to you for your knowledge and the consequent effects.

Independence and liberty! Mexico, April 21, 1868.

ROMERO.