Mr. McKenzie to Mr. Olney.

No. 307.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith, payable to your order, a bill of exchange on New York, No. 67, for $2,415.46, United States currency, at thirty days’ sight, being proceeds of a draft for 5,000 silver soles handed to me by the Peruvian Government in part payment of the 10,000 soles due this year in settlement of the Amazonas claim, together with my note of May 20, 1896, to the Peruvian minister for foreign affairs, and his reply, with a translation; also a note from Mr. D. Pattison, of the house of W. R. Grace & Co., Lima, together with quotations of current rates of exchange, and my note of July 18, 1896, to the minister for foreign affairs, etc., all of which are self-explanatory.

I have, etc.,

J. A. McKenzie.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 307.]

Mr. McKenzie to Dr. Zevallos.

Mr. Minister: Referring to the conversation between your excellency and the secretary of this legation on February 22 last, in relation to the settlement of the claims of the members of the Hydrographic Commission of the Amazon against Peru, in which you stated the Government of Peru would pay in full satisfaction of all claims 20,000 silver soles, 10,000 this year and 10,000 next year, etc., I now have the pleasure of notifying your excellency that I am authorized by the United States Government to accept your proposition, and will come to the Peruvian foreign office at any time your excellency may indicate to receive the first moiety and transmit it to the Secretary of State for distribution among the claimants.

Congratulating all parties concerned upon this friendly, honorable adjustment of a long-standing claim,

I avail myself, etc.,

J. A. McKenzie.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 307.—Translation.]

Dr. Zevallos to Mr. McKenzie.

Mr. Minister: In reply to your excellency’s note, No. 73, of May 20 last, in which I am informed that the Government of the United States accepts the proposition of my Government to pay the claim of the members of the Hydrographic Commission of the Amazon the sum of 20,000 [Page 494] soles, 10,000 soles payable in this year and the balance in the course of next year, I have the honor to transmit to your excellency order (No. 18) for 5,000 soles against the treasury department to the order of your excellency on account of the first installment which has to be paid to you.

I am pleased to inform your excellency that in due course I will transmit the 5,000 soles due during the present year.

I am, etc.,

Ricardo Ortiz de Zevallos.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 307.]

Mr. McKenzie to Dr. Zevallos.

Mr. Minister: I am pleased to acknowledge receipt of your excellency’s kind favor of yesterday, inclosing draft No. 18 for 5,000 silver soles upon the Peruvian treasury department, payable to my order, on account of the first installment of 10,000 soles, which has to be paid this year in settlement of the claims of the members of the Hydrographic Commission of the Amazon, etc.

I am also pleased to be informed by your excellency that in due course of time you will remit to me the remaining 5,000 soles due during the the present year.

I avail myself, etc.,

J. A. McKenzie.