No. 571.

Mr. Bayard to Mr. Curry.

No. 10.]

Sir: Calling your attention to the last clause of the commercial agreement of February 13, 1884, by which Spain practically guaranteed the suppression of the fees on tonnage then exacted by the Spanish consuls here on the cargoes of vessels leaving the ports of the United States for Cuba and Porto Rico, I have to say that, as appears by the inclosed copy of a letter from New York, these fees continue to be exacted, to the great harassment of our commerce.

Please state what action has been taken by the Spanish Government in the direction of suppressing these fees; and should you conclude that the matter requires further representations on the part of the legation, I will thank you to make them.

Referring to instructions No. 111 of 10th November, 1882, No. 142 of 3d March, and No. 151 of 14th March, 1883, on the consular tariff of Spain, and other correspondence,

I am, &c.,

T. F. BAYARD.
[Inclosure in No. 10.]

Messrs. Alexandre & Sons to Mr. Bayard.

Sir: We beg to advise your Department that the Spanish consul continues to exact a duty of 10 cents per 1,000 kilos (2,200 pounds) as tonnage dues on cargo shipped by our steamers to Havana, which we were led to think was contrary to intention of the late treaty made between United States and Spain, and so have continued paying same under protest.

Can we not hope that this may be stopped?

Respectfully,

F. ALEXANDRE & SONS.