No. 460.
Mr. Bayard
to Mr. Manning.
Department
of State,
Washington, May 2,
1887.
No. 97.
Sir: I inclose for your information a copy of a
letter from Messrs. F. Alexandre & Sons, of the 28th ultimo, expressing
gratification at the Department’s position as announced in its No. 92, of
the 25th ultimo, to you, relative to the discrimination against American
shipping interests by Mexico.
I am etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 97.]
Messrs. Alexandre &
Sons to Mr. Bayard.
New
York, April 28,
1887.
Sir: Your esteemed favor of yesterday received
and its contents are gratifying, for we see your Department holds the
same view we have ever held, that the Government of Mexico was injuring
American shipping interests in allowing a Spanish line of steamers to
enjoy a discriminating duty on imports by its vessels into Mexican ports
of Progreso and Vera Cruz, to the very great
prejudice of American vessels going to those ports. Now that your
Department has taken that stand, we feel encouraged to the extent of not
being willing to withdraw our line to Mexico.
It has been so far humiliating to see the Spanish line carrying American
products into Mexico that our line could not touch, as the 2 per cent.
less duty into Mexico ex Spaniards was equal to prohibition by our
American steamers.
Respectfully,
F. Alexandre $ Sons.
