File No. 817.51/257.

The Nicaraguan Minister to the Secretary of State.

Excellency: I have the honor to inform your excellency that a contract providing for a loan of $1,500,000 to the Nicaraguan Government by Messrs. Brown Brothers and Company and J. and W. Seligman and Company of New York, was signed by myself and Messrs. Brown Brothers and Company and J. and W. Seligman and Company of New York on September 1st. This contract was subsequently submitted to the President of Nicaragua and the National Constituent Assembly, and was duly approved by that body on October 9th. The contract provides that this loan shall be secured by the customs receipts of Nicaragua, which shall be collected by a Collector General of Customs nominated by the bankers, approved by the Secretary of State, and appointed by the Government of Nicaragua.

As I am under telegraphic instructions from my Government to expedite this matter, I have the honor to request that when the bankers shall have submitted to your excellency for approval the name of the person proposed by them as Collector General that you will take action thereon as early as may be convenient.

Respectfully I am [etc.]

Salvador Castrillo.