No. 571.
Mr. Bayard to Viscount das
Nogueiras.
Washington, May 11, 1887.
Viscount: I have the honor to inform you that Mr. Henry Watson, an American citizen, who sails to-morrow for the Azores, was informed by the agents of the line he goes by that passengers bound for the Azores must provide themselves, before sailing, with Portuguese passports, which could be obtained of the Portuguese vice-consul, 136 Congress street, Boston. The price of such passports for his party was $3.30.
As this regulation apparently supersedes the passports issued by this Department to Americans going abroad, and practically puts a tax on their departure, I should be glad to know whether this regulation of the shipping agents is in consequence of orders issued by your consuls and authorized by your Government, and also to be exactly informed, if there be no objection, as to the tenor of the instructions issued to your consuls in regard to visas or passports for travelers to Portugal and her colonies.
Accept, etc.,