No. 112.
Mr. Hosmer
to Mr. Bayard.
Legation of
the United States in Central America,
Guatemala, June 5, 1888.
(Received June 25.)
No. 817.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your instructions numbered 575, of May 1, 1888, and in reply to the same to
inclose to you a translated copy of the note of the minister for foreign
affairs of the Republic of Costa Rica, in which he refers to an accompanying
copy of the official Periodical of that Republic containing the President’s
decree notifying the withdrawal of, and concession made to the Marquis de
Campo’s line of steamers, and declaring the right of Costa Rica to make
reclamation for non-fulfillment of contract; a translated copy of which
decree also I now have the honor to inclose to you herein.
I have, etc.,
James R. Hosmer,
Chargé d’Affaires ad
interim.
[Inclosure 1 in No.
817.—Translation.]
Señor Esquivel to
Mr. Hosmer.
Department for Foreign Relations,
San José, May 2, 1888
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of the note of February 14 last, from your legation. It seems to
have been written under the impression that the
[Page 155]
interests of the merchant marine of the United
States would he injured by the rebate of 5 per cent, granted by my
Government on the duties on all merchandise brought into this country by
the Marquis de-Campo’s line of steamers.
I regret that I am compelled to differ in opinion on this subject from
the chief of your legation and that the arguments adduced in my note of
January 10 have failed to bring him over to the view held by my
Government. At the same time I beg leave to inform you that the cause of
our disagreement no longer exists, my Government having revoked the
concession made to the Marquis de Campo’s line of steamers for the
reasons given in the decree published in the official newspaper, a copy
of which decree I inclose.
This decree obviates the necessity for any further discussion of the
concession made to the Marquis de Campo’s line of steamers, but the note
of February 14 refers also to concessions made in favor of several lines
of British and German steamers running to the port of Limon. I am happy
to say in reply that my Government has every disposition to make equal
concessions to all lines of Atlantic steamers taking upon themselves the
same obligations as the lines referred to.
With regard to the contract made with Mr. Pedro Terrés relative to the
establishment of a line of sailing vessels between Limon and the ports
of Europe, I do not hesitate to assert that my Government is ready to
treat on the same terms with the representatives of any other line of
sailing vessels willing to undertake the same obligations as Mr.
Terrés.
My Government expects by this policy to promote the maritime commerce of
the country, and thereby to increase its financial resources and to
develop the few attractions presented by this Republic to maritime
enterprise. This impartial policy can not fail to be of great benefit to
every effort to increase maritime communication between our Atlantic
port and other countries.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 817.—Translation from
La Gaceta, the official newspaper.]
San
José, Costa Rica, April 11, 1888.
Bernardo Soto, General-in-Chief of the Executive and Constitutional
President of the Republic of Costa Rica: Considering that the concession
granted to the Marquis de Campo to aid him in establishing the
Spanish-American steam-ship line should be considered null and void,
because the marquis has already withdrawn the steamers, after only a few
months service, and because he has given notice of his intention to
abandon the undertaking;
In virtue of these reasons, and in conformity with that clause of Article
I marked “h,” of the contract of July 1, 1887, approved by Congress on
the 16th of the said month,
decrees.
Only Article.—The concessions made to the Marquis
de Campo is hereby revoked, and the Republic of Costa Rica retains the
right to demand of the marquis whatever damages shall appear to be due
for his non-fulfillment of contract.
Given at the presidential palace at
San José
the 10th day of the
month of April, 1888.
- Bernardo
Soto.
The
Subsecretary of Marine in charge of the
Bureau.
- Ronulfo
Soto.
