No. 110.
Mr. Bayard
to Mr. Hosmer.
Department
of State,
Washington, May 1,
1888.
No. 575.]
Sir: I transmit for your information a copy of a
letter from the secretary of the Pacific Mail Steam-ship Company, and of the
Department’s reply thereto, dated the 26th ultimo and 1st instant,
respectively, touching the precise situation of Costa Rica in the matter of
the discrimination in favor of the Spanish Central American line of
steamers.
You will accordingly ascertain whether the de Campo steamers have been
withdrawn between Costa Rica and San Francisco; and if so, whether the
obnoxious legislation remains unrepealed.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 575.]
Mr. Lane to Mr.
Bayard
New
York, April 26,
1888.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of letter of the Assistant Secretary, Mr. G. L. Rives, dated
18th instant, together with copy of decree of the Guatemalan Government
referred to therein, for which we thank you.
We notice that Mr. Rives goes on to say that, “There now appears to be no
discrimination in the Pacific ports of Central America in favor of any
foreign flag.”
Referring to our previous requests for the exaction of extra duties on
cargo proceeding from Costa Rican ports to San Francisco, concerning
which we have not as yet been advised that the Treasury Department has
taken any action, our understanding of the situation is that if the Del
Campo steamers were still running between
[Page 152]
Costa Rica and San Francisco the discrimination
against American vessels would still exist.
As, however, they have been driven off the coast by their inability to
compete with this company’s steamers (irrespective of any assistance
afforded us by the Treasury Department, such as that which was solicited
by us) we do not understand that, any final withdrawal of the
discrimination in question has been enacted by the Government of Costa
Rica.
If so, we would be obliged if the Department would kindly advise us to
that effect.
Respectfully, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 575.]
Mr. Rives to Mr.
Lane.
Department of State,
Washington, May 1,
1888.
Sir: In reply to your letter of the 26th
ultimo, I desire to say that the Department’s latest information in the
matter of the discrimination by Costa Rica is in Mr. Henry C. Hall’s
dispatch, No. 775, of February 16, 1888, which showed that that
Government still maintained the discrimination in favor of the Spanish
Central American Line, otherwise known as the Marquis de Campo
steamers.
In connection with Mr. Hall’s dispatch, forwarding the Guatemalan decree
of March 24, 1888, the Secretary of the Treasury asked for further and
more precise information as to the position of Costa Rica in this
matter, saying that instructions had heretofore been issued to the
collector of customs at San Francisco to apply the provisions of section
2502 of the Revised Statutes to cargoes coming to that port from Costa
Rica in the Spanish steamers. Mr. Fairchild was advised that Mr. Hall’s
No. 775 contained the latest information in the Department’s
possession.
Mr. Hosmer, the chargé d’affaires ad interim of
the United States at Guatemala City, will be directed to ascertain
whether the De Campo steamers have been withdrawn between Costa Rica and
San Francisco; and, if so, whether the obnoxious legislation remains
unrepealed.
I am, etc.,
G. L. Rives,
Assistant
Secretary.
