Don Julian Volio to J. Fredr. Lahmann, May 6, 1868

Señor Volio to Mr. Lahmann.

Sir: I have given due consideration to your esteemed dispatch of 1st instant, in which you are pleased to communicate the result of the surveys made by Captain Kinderling, commanding his Prussian Majesty’s sloop-of-war Augusta, in the bay of Limon, on the Atlantic coast of this republic, in order to ascertain whether said port unites all those conditions which may appear desirable to his Majesty’s government for establishing there the depot of their West India naval station. You, at the same time, express the request that this government should consent to enter into no arrangements, either with any foreign government or any private company, with respect to the bay of Limon, for six months dated from 1st June, 1868, in order to insure time sufficient for a commission of the North German Confederacy, invested with full powers to come here and negotiate for a concession in said port. I am instructed by the President of the republic to answer, that, although Costa Rica would most assuredly derive great material advantages from the establishment of a naval station in any of her ports, principally on her north coast, still her traditional policy, agreeing with those principles acknowledged by all America, and, above all, with the peculiar circumstances of her situation, forbids her to make special concessions to any government whatever, however great her sympathy for the same, and however completely secured her independence and political autonomy may be.

In our present condition any deviation from the inflexible rule we have bound ourselves to follow, namely, to grant equally to all nations that honor us with their friendship, without distinction or privilege of any kind, such advantages as they justly demand, both for their commerce and countrymen, would create complications that we must avoid, even at the expense of delaying that progress we so anxiously covet.

Such being the case, there is no danger of this government granting any exclusive privilege to any other government, neither during the six months you demand, nor within a longer period, whatever the advantages tendered in return.

But as the spirit of private enterprise in Prussia might need for its development either the use of the bay of Limon, or of part of the public lands, or of some navigable river in this country, nothing prevents that, during the term of six months asked by Captain Kinderling, some private company should be formed, with the object of improving the port, or building a road to the interior, or some other work useful to this republic, with the assurance that, if the conditions set forth are acceptable, all lawful privileges required shall be granted; and, in the meanwhile, this government shall consider itself bound to negotiate with no other company during said term of six months.

Trusting that my answer will prove satisfactory to you, I have the honor to remain, sir, your obedient servant,