No. 516.
Mr. Bayard
to Mr. Bell.
Washington , December 23, 1886.
Sir: I transmit herewith two copies of the Congressional Record, Vol. 18, No. 13, reporting the proceedings in the two houses on the 20th instant.
You may communicate one of these copies to the Netherlands minister for foreign affairs, calling his attention to the marked passage on pages 308–310, in relation to a proposition to expand the duty on wrapper tobacco.
In so doing you will say to his excellency that it is handed to him for his information, the subject-matter being one in which his Government has heretofore shown much interest. As a general rule, pending measures of legislation, and the deliberative action taken thereon, are matters of merely domestic cognizance, and are not made the subject of diplomatic expression $ but as in this case a public recommendation, found in the annual message of the President, was brought into the debate, and may be presumed to have had its influence on the announced result, its present communication is in the line of enlarging the good relationship which this Government is desirous to maintain with that of the Netherlands.
I am, etc.,