611.1731/14
The Chargé in Nicaragua (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 16.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Department’s confidential circular instruction, of August 18, 1923, (diplomatic serial number 211, file number 611.0031.)16 respecting the inclusion of an unconditional most-favored-nation clause in a commercial treaty with Nicaragua, and to say that the insertion of such a clause would appear to be desirable and should meet with no opposition.
During my conversation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs regarding the proposed Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Consular Rights, mentioned in the Department’s cable instruction number 44, of September 20, 6 p.m.,17 I received the impression that the Government of Nicaragua would be very gratified by the conclusion of such a treaty, and would leave in our hands the formulation of the greater part of its provisions—although it probably would not fail to propose certain clauses.
In connection with the proposed Treaty, I have the honor to report that there is said to exist between the Governments of France and Nicaragua an agreement whereunder special import rates are accorded by the former to Nicaraguan coffee. I do not know what reciprocal privilege is granted any French products, but I will endeavor to ascertain the terms of the agreement and submit a further report.
Another matter which should, perhaps, receive the Department’s consideration when arranging for the conclusion of the Treaty with Nicaragua is the peculiar situation which exists by reason of the several financial plans.18 One of these plans, for example, would appear to render any reduction of Nicaraguan customs rates impossible.
I have [etc.]
- Foreign Relations, 1923, vol. i, p. 131.↩
- Not printed.↩
- The reference is to several financial agreements made in 1920 between the Government of Nicaragua and the two New York banking houses of Brown Brothers & Co. and J. W. Seligman and Co.↩