No. 120.
Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish.
Guatemala, August 17, 1874. (Received September 23.)
Sir: I have the honor to state that, if you think it desirable, I would like to furnish you as full information as I may be able to obtain relative to the commerce, navigation, agriculture, and industrial arts of Central America, and also to the laws that affect any of our people coming here or having commercial relations with this country.
[Page 181]It has occurred to me such knowledge might prove serviceable to our country, and that in transmitting it (if successful) I would be fulfilling in part the duties of the mission.
Without any intention to censure directly or impliedly any of the ministers to the Central states heretofore, I beg leave to say that an inspection of their correspondence indicates their attention was not much given to such subjects.
You are aware that in these countries there are no statistical tables collected or published by the governments, and that they have the misfortune not to have newspapers or scientific societies which make it a business to collect facts relating to the public life of the state.
In order to make the effort to obtain the information, it appears (from my construction of your instruction No. 8,) to be necessary to obtain your permission to correspond officially on these subjects with the several governments of Guatemala, Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and also with that of Costa Rica, if relations should be restored with that state.
I beg to present an illustration of a beneficial effect that might accrue from obtaining the kind of information alluded to. I am convinced, from unofficial sources, the export and import duties in most, if not all, of these states are so levied as to be prejudicial to our commerce. It may be this has resulted, in a measure, from the advice of some of our commercial rivals.
If the official data could be obtained, it seems it ought not to be difficult to point out to these governments how unjustly they discriminate against the commerce of the United States.
They might be shown how heavy are the duties on those articles we can undoubtedly furnish more cheaply than other nations, such as flour, bacon, lard, petroleum-oils, patent medicines; canned fish, oysters, meats, and fruits; California wines and liquors, and other articles I cannot at the moment recall.
A knowledge of the tariff-laws of the several Central American states would seem to be useful, if not quite necessary, in the negotiation of future treaties. It is hoped you will allow me to present another illustration of the necessity of official correspondence in connection with the subject of commerce. There being no consuls at the seats of government of Honduras and Nicaragua, annual official statements of exports and imports cannot be obtained without incurring an obligation to the courtesy of some private citizen, which, in my judgment, ought always to be avoided by a minister if possible.
It seems desirable that our Government should be well informed in regard to the supply of agricultural and natural products of these countries, which we import and consume or manufacture largely, particularly coffee, cochineal, indigo, India rubber, sarsaparilla, and sugar or muscovado.
A knowledge of the laws that affect our citizens residing here or who may choose to come here would seem to be worthy of acquisition.
I regret to trouble you with this long dispatch, but am induced to do so from my anxiety to infringe in no manner the rules of the Department, and to conform strictly to the interpretation put upon your instruction No. 81.
I have, &c.,