Mr. Hay to Mr.
Hunter.
Department of State,
Washington, April 5,
1899.
No. 138.]Sir: Ref erring to the Department’s instruction
No. 103, of January 28, 1899, I inclose for your information a copy of a
dispatch from the consul of the United States at Tegucigalpa, No. 48, of
March 10, 1899, relative to the denunciation by the Government of
Honduras in 1898 of certain treaties with the United States.
[Page 363]
I inclose also a copy of the Department’s reply, from which it will
appear that no treaties under the dates mentioned by Mr. Allison—namely,
May 28, 1849, and May 10, 1863, were ever concluded by this Government;
that so far as its archives are concerned no notification of the
termination of the treaty of July 4, 1864, has ever reached this
Department.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Allison to
Mr. Hill.
Consulate of the United States,
Tegucigalpa, March 10, 1899.
No. 48].Sir: I have the honor to inform you that in
accordance with my dispatch of some months previous, in which I
stated that ex-President Bonilla had informed me that no treaty
existed between the United States and Honduras and that it was
denounced in 1878 or 1879, I have found on the record here the
following:
By decree of provisional Government of Dr. Marco Aurelio
Soto, dated in La Paz, April 25, 1877, were denounced
several existing treaties, including—
The general convention with United States signed May 28,
1849, and the one signed May 10, 1863.
This act was approved by Congress in decree of March 20,
1879.
I beg to state that our Government will have no trouble in effecting
a new treaty with the Government of Honduras or a renewal of the old
one, if, in your opinion, this will be necessary, as I have had some
little talk with President Sierra and his ministers, and they have
expressed their willingness in this matter; however, if I am to come
to the United States soon, there will be several points if a new
treaty is to be made which I would like to suggest.
I have notified our consul-general, Mr. A. M. Beaupré, at Guatemala,
of the decrees in reference to treaty which I found on the records
here.
I am, etc.
Frederick H. Allison,
United States Consul.
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Cridler to
Mr. Allison.
Department of State,
Washington, April 5,
1899.
No. 52.]Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of
your No. 48 of March 10, in relation to the denunciation of the
treaty between the United States and Honduras, referred to in my No.
24 of January 28, 1899. You say that you have found on the record at
your consulate the following:
By decree of provisional government of Dr. Marco Aurelio
Soto, dated in La Paz, April 25, 1877, were denounced
several existing treaties, including the general convention
with United States, signed May 28, 1849, and the one signed
May 10, 1863. This act was approved by Congress in decree of
March 20, 1879.
By reference to Department’s instruction you will find that the
treaty referred to as having been denounced in 1878 or 1879 by the
Honduran Government was that concluded July 4, 1864, relative to
friendship, commerce, and navigation.
[Page 364]
Your dispatch speaks of two treaties signed May 28, 1849, and May 10,
1863. So far as the record of this Department discloses the fact, I
am unable to find that any treaties bearing those dates were ever
concluded with the Government of Honduras.
Requesting that you will give the matter further investigation and
report,
I am, etc.,
