Morgan to Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, January 4, 1882

No. 208. Mr. Morgan to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

Sir: On the receipt of Department dispatch No. 199, November 29, I addressed a note to Señor Mariscal, asking him to appoint a day and hour upon which I could read it to him. A copy of my note I inclose. Señor Mariscal replied that he would receive me at the foreign office on Friday, the 16th instant. A translation of his note I inclose.

I kept the appointment, read to hirn your dispatch, and left with him a copy thereof. I also, in a separate note, conveyed to the President of Mexico, through the foreign secretary, the formal invitation of the President of the United States to name two commissioners to a congress of the independent countries of North and South America to be held at the city of Washington, on the 24th day of November, 1882. A copy of my note I inclose. Señor Mariscal informed me that he would lay the matter before the President and promised an early reply to the invitation.

On the 22d December I received your dispatch No. 201, December 1, in which you informed me that there was an error of date in your dispatch No. 199, December 1, and that the 22d of November, 1882, should be substituted for “24th.” This correction I made in a note which I addressed to Senor Mariscal on the 22d December, 1881, a copy whereof I inclose.

The receipt of this note Senor Mariscal acknowledged on the 22d December, 1881. A translation of his note I inclose.

On the 29th December I received your dispatch No. 202, December 3. On the 31st December in an interview which I had of Senor Mariscal I stated to him that the proposed congress was to be held under the auspices of the United States, and that the commissioners appointed thereto would be at no expense except for their maintenance while in attendance upon the sessions thereof.

The opportunity presented itself for me to suggest that it would be advisable that one at least of the commissioners to be appointed should be acquainted with the English language, and I took advantage of it.

Señor Mariscal said that he supposed the Mexican minister at Washington and some one from Mexico would be appointed. He did not, however, inform me that his government had determined upon sending any commissioners. To avoid any possible misapprehension on the part of the Mexican Government as to the purpose of the United States in respect of the expenses of the proposed congress, I deemed it proper to address him a note upon the subject, which I did on the 3d January. A copy whereof I inclose. You will observe that it is an extract from your dispatch (No. 202).

More than a fortnight having expired since my interview with Señor Mariscal, and not having received any communication from him upon the subject, I have considered it proper to inform you of what has taken place.

I am, sir, &c.,