Gold and silver in bars, dust, or coin

46. Samples of merchandise the duties on which do not exceed Sh. 1. It is understood that the packages or coverings in which the articles

named in the foregoing schedule are imported shall be free of duty if they are usual and proper for the purpose.

A true copy.

[L. S.] Zelaya.

Comayagua, February 26, 1892.

New York, April 13, 1892.

Jacob Bain, Consul - General.

États-Unis d'Amérique, Honduras.

Mr. Blaine to Mr. Baiz.

Deparment of State,

Washington, April 29, 1892.

Jacob Baiz, Esq.,

Consul - General of Honduras at New York, New York City.

Sir : It is very pleasant for me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th instant, in which you inform me that the Government of Honduras , in reply to the invitation which , by my direction , the minister of the United States accredited to Honduras addressed to the minister of foreign affairs of that Government, dated January 22, 1891, and in considération of the admission into the United States of the products of Honduras, free of ail duty, whether national, municipal, or of any other kind, named in section 3 of the tariff law of the Congress of the United States approved October 1, 1890, proposes, as a provisional commercial arrangement, to admit into the Republic of Honduras, from the 25th day of May, 1892, free of ail customs, municipal , or any other kind of duty, the articles , the product or manufacture of the United States, enumerated in the schedule attached to your said note ; that , reserving the right to adopt the laws and régulations necessary to prevent fraud , it agrées that they shall not impose any additional charges or fees therefor on the articles imported from the United States ; that , in case the provisional arrangement proposed by you is accepted by the Government of the United States , the Président of Honduras will apply to the Congress of the Republic , at its next session , for the authority necessary to celebrate with the United States and put in force a more complète reciprocity arrangement; that , if such authority should be conferred by the Congress , negotiations shall be opened without delay; and that, should a definite arrangement be agreed upon, it shall be put in opération within sixty days from the date of agreement, and supersede the provisional arrangement now proposed.

I am directed by the Président to state to you that he accepts this action of the Government of Honduras, in stipulating, as a provisional measure, to grant exemption of duties to the products and manufactures of the United States and to negotiate a more complète reciprocity arrangement on the terms stated, as a due reciprocity for the action of the Congress of the United States, as contained in section 3 of the tarifF law above cited.

I am also pleased to reciprocate the assurance contained in your note, and to state that the laws and régulations adopted by the Government of the United States to prevent fraud shall not impose any additional charges or fees therefor on the products imported from Honduras.

It shall be further understood that, should the Congress of Honduras take no action on the application of the Executive for authority to celebrate a more complète reciprocity arrangement , the Government of the United States may terminate the provisional arrangement proposed by you upon thirty days' notice to the Government of Honduras; and, further, that if before January I 1893 , no definite arrangement is agreed upon,

Commerce.

the Government of the United States may likewise terminate the provision al arrangement.

I am, etc.,