Legation of
the United States,
Athens, July 3, 1872.
(Received August 5.)
No. 69.]
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Mr. Bulgaria to
Mr. Francis.
Athens, June 21, (July 3,) 1872.
Mr. Minister: The consul of the King at New
York, charged also with the management temporarily of His Majesty’s
legation in the United States, announces to me, as you know, that
Congress has voted a new tariff, according to which the customs duty
on Corinth grapes (dried currants) is reduced from two and a half to
one cent per English pound.
This news has caused most lively satisfaction to my colleagues and
myself, and without doubt will be welcomed by all our citizens with
the same sentiments. It is because the Corinth grape is one of the
principal products that Greece exports, and because the reduction
just voted promises to increase considerably its exportation to the
United States.
I am desirous, though it is only two days since I had the pleasure of
seeing you at your home, to present the sincere thanks of the King’s
government to the Government and Congress of the United States for a
decision which, in favoring the interests of our cultivators, will
contribute powerfully to the development of direct commerce between
the two countries, which are united by the warmest and most sincere
friendship.
You have learned, Mr. Minister, with no less satisfaction of this
reduction, because, solicited by the government of the King, you
were kind enough to recommend it to your Government. Thus your
recommendation, without doubt, came to the aid of Mr. Botassi’s
efforts at Washington, and therefore it was that I begged you the
other day to accept personally my thanks. Permit me, Mr. Minister,
to repeat here, in writing, these thanks, as well as the expression
of my sentiments of high consideration.
