Minister Merry to
Acting Secretary of State Loomis.
American Legation,
San José,
Costa Rica, May 12,
1905.
No. 1045.]
Sir: I have the honor to forward herewith copy
and translation of an excerpt from the treaty of commerce and navigation
recently signed at Managua by the representatives of Great Britain and
Nicaragua. You will note that when it becomes operative San Juan del
Norte will cease nominally to be a free port. This is a matter of no
possible consequence to our interests and will not unfavorably affect
our commerce with Nicaragua. The excerpt of the treaty, translation of
which accompanies this, is from El Diario de la Tarde, semiofficial
daily journal published at Managua, and is sent in preference to
awaiting publication in the Official Gazette, which may be delayed.
I have, etc.,
Inclosure.—Translation.]
[El Diario de la Tarde,
Managua, April 24,
1905.]
excerpt from a treaty of commerce
and navigation.
* * * * * * *
His Britannic Majesty and the Government of Nicaragua have agreed
upon the following:
“There shall be reciprocity of commerce and navigation between the
dominions and possessions of the contracting parties. The subjects
or citizens of both shall have full liberty to enter with their
vessels and cargoes to all the ports of the dominions or possessions
of the other party, in which shall be permitted the entry of the
subjects or citizens of the most favored nation, and shall enjoy the
same rights, privileges, favors, immunities, and exemptions of
these.
“The privileges of the free port of San Juan del Norte are annulled.
The port will continue open to commerce, the facilities of
navigation will be maintained and improved, and there shall be
established a sufficient number of warehouses for the deposit of
merchandise in transit. The port will be under the same conditions
as the others of the Republic in respect to the duties and imposts
and regulations regarding navigation and foreign commerce and
municipal taxes. It is declared that in all cases under the treaty
there shall be granted the rights of the most favored nation, being
excepted the Republics of Central America. It is declared that the
stipulations arranged in regard to the port of San Juan del Norte
shall have the character of perpetuity.”
The remainder of the treaty that follows is more or less the same
that is conceded in all the commercial treaties of the world.
