Gold and silver , in bullion, dust or coin

It is understood that the packages or coverings in which the articles named in the foregoing schedule are imported shall enter free of duty if they are usual and proper for the purpose.

Mr. Blaine to the Guatemalan Minister.

Département of State.

Washington, December 30, 1891.

Sir : I have great pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of your note of the 29th instant, in which you inform me that the Government of Guatemata, in due reciprocity for, and in considération of, the free admission into the United States of the products of Guatemala enumerated in the note of the chargé d'affaires ad intérim of the United States at Guatemala city, dated January 22, 1891, proposes to admit free of duty the articles, the product or manufacture of the United States of America, named in the schedule attached to your note within thirty days after the approval by the Congress of Guatemala of the commercial arrangement proposed by you ; that no increase shall be made by Guatemala in the export tax on the articles admitted free into the United States ; and that the laws and régulations adopted by Guatemala to prevent fraud shall not impose any additional charges or fees therefor on the articles named in your note imported from the United States.

I am directed by the Président to state to you that , in case the Congress of Guatemala at its next session approves the commercial arrangement proposed by you, he will accept this action of the Government of Guatemala , in granting exemption of duties to the United States , as a

Commerce.

due reciprocity for the action of the Congress of the United States, as set forth in Mr. Kimberly's note above mentioned.

I ara also pleased to reciprocate the assurances contained in your note, and to state that, in case the proposed arrangement goes into operation, no export tax, whether national , State, or municipal , can or will be imposed in the United States upon the products or manufactures enumerated in the schedule attached to your note sent to Guatemala.

It may be further understood that, while the Government of the United States reserves the right to adopt the laws and régulations necessary to protect its revenue and prevent fraud in the déclarations and proof that the articles enumerated in section 3 of the law cited are the product or manufacture of Guatemala, the laws and régulations to be adopted shall place no undue restrictions upon the importer nor impose any additional charges or fees upon the articles imported.

When I shall be advised by you of the favorable action of the Congress of Guatemala, I shall be pleased to agrée with you upon the time for making concurrent announcement of the proposed commercial arrangement , which , it is understood, shall remain in force so long as it shall not be modified or revoked by the législation of either Government or by the mutual agreement of the executive power of the two countries. Accept, etc.,

James G. Blaine.

Sefîor Don Antonio Batres,

Etc., etc., etc,