No. 482.
Mr. Porter
to Mr. Manning.
Washington, August 3, 1887.
Sir: In connection with the Department’s No. 113, of June 13 last, I have now the pleasure to inclose for your information a copy of a further dispatch from Mr. H. C. Hall, your colleague at Guatemala City, No. 684,* of the 12th ultimo, announcing that the President of Guatemala [Page 741] had issued a decree which assimilates, as far as the contract will permit, the steamers of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company with those of the proposed Spanish line between Panama and San Francisco.
Mr. Hall has been told, in reply, that while the Department would be glad to see the entire abolition by the Government of Guatemala of any discrimination of the kind heretofore complained of, against an American and in favor of a foreign line of steamers, yet, at the same time, it was gratifying to note the disposition of that Government to accord to American vessels treatment more in harmony with the amicable trade relations between the two countries.
Since the pending discrimination question with Mexico stands in precisely the same position toward the United States as it did in Guatemala, you may find suitable occasion in your further discussion of the matter with Mr. Mariscal to refer to the friendly action of Guatemala, and to express the hope that Mexico may not longer delay the abolition of her discrimination against American vessels and commerce.
I am, etc.,
Acting Secretary.