Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 5, 1881

No. 485.
Señor Navarro to Mr. Evarts.

[Translation.]

Legation of Mexico,
New York , November 30, 1880. (Received December 4.)

Mr. Secretary: The progressive development of the commerce between Mexico and the United States, which has made itself very notably felt during these past few years, and the constant desire of my government to draw closer day by day the friendly relations which now unite the two republics, involve, as a consequence, the necessity of introducing some changes in the treaties of navigation and commerce concluded by Mexico, and which should contain stipulations in harmony with the legitimate interests of both countries.

To this end the secretary of [foreign] relations of Mexico has addressed to me the communication, a copy of which I have the honor to inclose herewith, for the purpose of denouncing in due form to the government of the United States the treaty of navigation and commerce of the 5th of April, 1831, as lapsed and not subsisting after the passage of one year from the date of this notification, which is made in virtue of the stipulation expressed in the first part of the thirty-fourth article of the said treaty, and in the seventeenth article of that of the 2d of February, 1848, which confirmed it.

Your Department being animated as it is by the same sentiments which move this legation to endeavor to do all which may redound to the benefit of the interests of Mexico and the United States, I permit myself to expect your worthy co-operation, and assent to the termination of the treaty of commerce and navigation to which this note alludes, at the close of the 30th day of November in the coming year 1881.

Awaiting the reply of your Department in order to transmit it to my government, I am honored in repeating to you, &c.,

JUAN N. NAVARRO.

[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Señor Fernandez to Señor Navarro.

Secretaryship of State and Office of Foreign Relations,
Mexico , November 9, 1880.

It having been shown by experience lasting for half a century, so far as this country is concerned, that it is expedient to introduce certain modifications in the treaties of navigation and commerce concluded by Mexico which should be in harmony with the interests of both the contracting parties, the President, resting on the stipulations contained in the first paragraph of the thirty-fourth article of the treaty of April 5, 1831, and in the seventeenth article of the treaty of February 2, 1848, both concluded with the United States of America, has ordered that there be denounced to the Government of Washington, as I now formally do through the medium of your legation, the aforesaid treaty of navigation and commerce of April 5, 1831, as annulled and not subsisting after the lapse of one year counting from the day whereon your legation shall make the corresponding notification to the Department of State, to which end you may inclose the present dispatch with your note or annex thereto a copy hereof.

I protest to you my particular esteem.

JOSÉ FERNANDEZ.