No. 343.] NAVIGATION ON THE GREAT LAKES.1 Mr. Olney to Sir Julian Pauncefote. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 11, 1896. EXCELLENCY: Referring to previous correspondence on the subject of rules to prevent collisions on the Great Lakes, I have the honor to inform you that a copy of your note of the 25th ultimo in regard to the matter having been communicated to the Treasury Department, I have received a letter dated the 9th instant from the Acting Secretary of the Treasury, in which he expresses his regret that the subject of coming to an agreement upon the matter of adopting rules for the navigation of the Great Lakes should be postponed pending the general question of the revised regulations for the prevention of collisions at sea. Mr. Wike expresses the opinion that the two subjects are entirely distinct; that the rapids just above Montreal form a natural boundary separating waters navigable by seagoing vessels from the Great Lakes; that the peculiarities of lake navigation, its several canals, and various narrow channels, as well as the great amount of towing done, evidently create widely different conditions on the lakes from those which obtain on the high seas, and call for different regulations. Mr. Wike furthermore states that he is informed that in point of fact Canadian masters and pilots are generally conforming to the new American rules for the Great Lakes, the preponderating tonnage of the United States in those waters suggesting such conformity in the interests of safe navigation. In view of the foregoing considerations I beg you to do me the favor to ascertain whether Her Majesty's Government would be willing to reconsider its present opinion and act upon the subject apart from extraneous matters, so that uniform regulations may be put in force during the coming season of navigation. I have, etc., RICHARD OLNEY. Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Olney. BRITISH EMBASSY, 9 Washington, June 4, 1896. SIR: With reference to my note of March 12 last, and to previous correspondence respecting the rules for the navigation of the Great Lakes, I have the honor to inform you that I am in receipt of a dispatch from Her Majesty's secretary of state for foreign affairs, stating that he has considered, in communication with the board of trade, the request contained in your note to me, No. 343, of March 11 last, that Her Majesty's Government should revise their decision to postpone for the present the negotiations on the subject. The Marquis of Salisbury observes that the main difference between the rules desired respectively by Canada and by the United States has reference to the question of sound signals for use in fog. This question, so far as it concerns the high seas, has recently been resubmitted by Her Majesty's Government to a committee of the House of Commons, whose report has only just been received. The report will have to be 1 See Foreign Relations, 1895, Part I, p. 714. very carefully considered, and pending this consideration the board of trade are necessarily unable to formulate any definite opinion with regard to it, or to judge finally of the merits of the conflicting proposals of Canada and the United States. I am instructed, however, to explain to you that, with the view of minimizing a delay which can not, in the circumstances, be altogether avoided, Her Majesty's secretary of state for the colonies has, acting on a suggestion made by the board of trade, invited the Canadian Government to make their observations on the arguments set forth in your note to me of March 11 last. I have, etc., JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. AFFAIRS IN SAMOA. (See Samoa.) PROTECTION OF AMERICAN CITIZENS IN THE TRANSVAAL. (See South African Republic.) GREATER REPUBLIC OF CENTRAL AMERICA. RECOGNITION OF THE POLITICAL UNION OF HONDURAS, NICARAGUA, AND SALVADOR.1 Mr. Mendoza to Mr. Olney. SAN SALVADOR, September 22, 1896. SIR: I have the honor herewith to transmit to your excellency, together with the usual office copy, an autograph letter, which the Diet of the Greater Republic of Central America addresses to His Excellency Mr. Cleveland, President of the United States of North America, informing him of the new political organization agreed upon by the Republics of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Salvador. Begging your excellency to be pleased to transmit the letter to its high destination, I have the honor to beg you to accept the assurances of my most distinguished consideration. E. MENDOZA. [Inclosure.] The Diet of the Greater Republic of Central America to His Excellency the President of the United States of America. GREAT AND GOOD FRIEND: The Republics of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Salvador, by a treaty concluded in the port of Amapala, Honduras, on the 20th day of June, 1895, which was ratified by the respective legislative bodies of the three Republics, and the ratifications of which were exchanged in this city on the 15th instant, agreed to form a single political organization for the exercise of their external sovereignty, with the title of the Greater Republic of Central America, to be represented by a diet composed of three members, elected by each of the legislative bodies. The undersigned, having been honored by being chosen as such representatives, deem it to be their just duty to inform your excellency of the change which has been effected and of their firm purpose to continue to cultivate, with the utmost diligence, the cordial relations which have existed between the United States of America and the signatory Republics individually. They further desire to inform you that all obligations contracted by each one of them will be religiously fulfilled, provided that they are not incompatible with the new political organi zation which has been adopted. With best wishes for the prosperity of the North American nation and for your excellency's personal happiness, the undersigned have the uonor, etc., [SEAL.] SAN SALVADOR, September 19, 1896. JACINTO CASTELLANOS. EUSEBIO BRACAMONTE, See also under Honduras and Nicaragua. Mr. Rodriguez to Mr. Olney. [Translation.] WASHINGTON, D. C., December 1, 1896. Señor J. D. Rodriguez has the honor to offer his respects to His Excellency Mr. Secretary Olney, and to state to him that he is the bearer of letters which accredit him as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the Greater Republic of Central America to the Government of the United States of America, of which letters he transmits a copy. Señor Rodriguez begs, at the same time, of His Excellency Mr. Secretary Olney to be pleased to indicate to him the day and hour when His Excellency President Cleveland will deign to receive him in his official character, and he likewise sends him in advance herewith a copy of the brief address which he proposes to make to the President on that occasion. [Inclosure. Mr. Rodriguez's letters of credence.-Translation.] The Diet of the Greater Republic of Central America to His Excellency the President of the United States of America. GREAT AND GOOD FRIEND: A few days ago we had the honor to bring to Your Excellency's knowledge the political transformation effected by the Republics of Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua by merging their exterior sovereignty in one sole [sovereignty]; and in the desire of continuing to cultivate the relations which have existed individually between those Republics and the United States of America we have seen fit to appoint Don José Dolores Rodriguez envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the Government of your excellency. The personal qualifications of Señor Rodriguez lead us to hope that your excellency will be pleased to receive him with benevolence and give full credit to all that he may affirm, especially when he assures your excellency of the friendship and sympathy with which the great nation of the continent inspires them and the prayers they offer for its prosperity and the personal welfare of your excellency. With sentiments of the highest consideration, we have the honor, etc., your faithful and good friends. [SEAL.] SAN SALVADOR, October 1, 1896. A true copy. JACINTO CASTELLANOS. E. CONSTANTINO FIAllos. EUSEBIO BRACAMONTE, Chief Clerk. Mr. Rodriguez to Mr. Olney. [Translation.] LEGATION OF THE GREATER REPUBLIC OF CENTRAL AMERICA, Washington, December 7, 1896. DEAR SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith, reduced to writing, the suggestion of which we spoke on Saturday last toward the close of our interview, which will, I trust, as was understood, remain subject to whatever we may finally agree upon. My secretary will likewise place in your hands the translation of the treaty of Amapala,' which you were pleased to intrust to me and which has been corrected by the official translator of your Department. I am, etc., [Inclosure. Translation.] J. D. RODRIGUEZ. LEGATION OF THE GREATER REPUBLIC The President of the United States of America, in recognizing the Greater Republic of Central America, constituted conformably to the stipulations of the treaty of Amapala, of June 20, 1895, between the Repub. lies of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Salvador, and in entering upon diplomatic relations therewith, gives such recognition and enters upon such relations upon the distinct understanding that the responsibility of each of these Republics toward the United States of America remains wholly unaffected. NOTE.-Mr. Rodriguez was received by the President on December 24, 1896. His address and the President's reply on that occasion are as follows: Address of Mr. Rodriguez. [Translation.] Mr. PRESIDENT: The Greater Republic of Central America has honored me by appointing me its envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the Government of your excellency. In conferring that honor upon me the diet which constitutes the bond of union between the three Republics which organized that new entity has given me special instructions to assure your excellency, as it is gratifying to me to do, that the Greater Republic of Central America entertains the same sentiment of cordial and sincere friendship toward the American Government and people as have always been held by the peoples and Governments which formed the same, and that it cherishes sincere desires that neither the energetic progress nor the power of this great nation may ever be interrupted or impaired, and also that your excellency may enjoy personal happiness. It is highly satisfactory to me to place in your excellency's hands the letters which accredit my representation in the character mentioned. Our firm conviction that the sentiments which I have expressed find on the part of your excellency and of the American nation the most complete reciprocity has induced us to solicit the efficient intervention of your excellency to the end of bringing to a happy termination one of the questions which most interest the confederation by reason of the influence which it may exert upon the pacific developments of its great elements of wealth and prosperity. I trust, Mr. President, that in this, and in the other matters which I shall have to treat with the Government of your excellency, I will win For treaty see under Honduras, page 390. FR 96-24 |