No. 4.
Mr. Hanna to
Mr. Bayard.
Legation of
the United States,
Buenos
Ayres, January 1, 1887. (Received
February 5.)
No. 65.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith in
inclosures (1 and 2) a copy of an unofficial correspondence recently held by
our legation with the minister of foreign affairs of this Government in
relation to a line of steamships which a number of enterprising citizens of
the United States propose to operate between New York and Buenos Ayres.
Some time in September last Mr. W. P. Tisdel, representing a United States
line of steamships, asked to be presented to his excellency the minister of
foreign affairs of this Government, Dr. Don N. Quirno Costa, that he might
ascertain what, if anything, his Government would be willing to do in the
matter of putting on a line of ships “to run direct between New York and
Buenos Ayres, without stops along the Brazilian coast.”
It seemed to me to be a very desirable result to be reached by our people,
and the presentation of Mr. Tisdel in an unofficial way was accordingly
made. His reception was very cordial, but in consequence of the sudden
appearance of cholera here, and its overshadowing importance in all the
departments of this Government, the progress made in the negotiations was
for a time much retarded. His proposition to the Government was
substantially as follows:
To put on a monthly line of ships to ply between the United States and Buenos
Ayres, and to make no stops on the voyage south of the equator. His offer
was to perform this service for $100,000, Argentine gold, per annum, making
twelve trips a year at $8,333.33⅓ each, performing the voyage without
accidents beyond reasonable control in twenty-five days from New York to
Buenos Ayres. He then succeeded in getting the written guaranty of the
foreign office and the minister of the interior that they would favor and
aid the enterprise. Recently, however, as will be seen from the annexed
correspondence, the whole subject was discussed at a cabinet meeting,
receiving the sanction of the President and all the ministers. This makes a
finality of it, so far as this Government is concerned, and you will see the
minister of the interior is authorized to pay $10,000 per trip, Argentine
gold, which is worth about 3½ per cent, less than our standard. It is to be
hoped the contract will be closed at once.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 65.]
Mr. Costa to Mr.
Hanna.
The minister of foreign affairs of the Argentine Republic sends friendly
greetings to his excellency, the minister resident of the United States,
and has the satisfaction, in view of his deep personal interest in the
matter, to inform him that the President of the Republic, at a recent
cabinet meeting, presented for its consideration the pending project of
Mr. W. P. Tisdel relative to a direct line of steamers from New York to
Buenos Ayres, accepting it in general terms, and authorizing the
minister of the interior to grant said line a subsidy not to exceed
$1(000, Argentine gold, per month, the subsidy to continue for ten
years. On the opening of Congress the President will submit the
agreement to be made with the company represented by Mr. Tisdel, asking
its approval.
[Page 7]
[Inclosure 2 in No. 65.]
Mr. Hanna to Mr.
Costa.
Legation of the United States,
Buenos Ayres, Dec. 30,
1886.
Mr. Minister:
Your esteemed communication of yesterday informing this legation of the
action of His Excellency the President of the Argentine Republic, at a
late cabinet meeting of his distinguished ministers, accepting the
proposition of a United States steamship company, as represented by Mr.
W. P. Tisdel, to put a line of vessels to be operated between New. York
and Buenos Ayres directly, has given me very great satisfaction.
This determination on the part of your enlightened Government not only
furnishes additional proof of its broad and liberal spirit, but also of
its undoubted goodwill towards the Government and people of the United
States, and its desire to engage in freer and more enlarged commercial
relations with them. Reciprocity is the gateway of our success, and it
can and will be opened at last.
The United States and the Argentine Republic, one in the north and the
other in the south of this vast continent, constructed on the same
foundations, both free republics, which have won the respect of the
civilized world for their achievements in the liberal education of the
people, their triumphs in the arts of peace, and their combined and
persistent efforts to elevate the standard of “all the governments of
the people, by the people, and for the people,” are thus united by a
bond which must keep them close together, not only in respect, faith,
and sympathy, but also in commercial reciprocity, the best and fullest
expression of such decided affinities.
I have no doubt whatever that when our two countries have a better mail
service, and more rapid and reliable methods of communication a new era
will dawn upon us, and that every political barrier which now hinders
our progress will be removed by mutual popular concessions, and that we
will be in trade what we are in sentiment, essentially bound up together
in the struggle and triumphs of a common destiny.
Allow me again to renew, etc.,
