Mr. Adee to Mr. Conger.
Washington, July 27, 1893.
Mr. Adee, Acting Secretary, communicates to Mr. Conger a report that cipher messages from the United States to Brazil are prohibited by the Government of that country, which, however, allows them to be transmitted from Brazil to the United States. He remarks that legitimate commerce is hampered by this restriction which, besides being singular in permitting the transmission of cipher messages in one direction and not in the other, is unusual in the intercourse of trading nations. He instructs him to use every effort toward the absolute removal of the burdensome discrimination on the trade of the United States, whither so many Brazilian products are imported, and adds that, as a last resort, he may adopt the expedient, objectionable though it be, that the merchants suggest, and which is already in operation at Pernambuco, of having their codes deposited with the authorities of Brazil and their messages translated by the receivers.