Salvador Gallegos to Hall, January 4, 1884

Señor Gallegos to Mr. Hall.

Mr. Minister: By your excellency’s courteous communication of the 24th ultimo the Salvador Government has been informed that some of the provisions of the new constitution of the Republic have attracted your attention, being identical with those which in 1879 were the object of the protest of one of your predecessors in Guatemala, in virtue of their affecting as well the rights of your fellow-citizens as your own rights and prerogatives as a foreign representative. With this view, following the same instructions given previously by your Government, your excellency stated that wherein the provisions referred to affect the rights of your fellow-citizens you will ask that they may be respected and their just claims attended to in all cases in which diplomatic intervention may be justified by international law.

My Government at once accepts as sincere your excellency’s courteous manifestation, and although dissenting essentially in the appreciation of the provisions alluded to, which, in its judgment, far from impairing, recognize the rights of foreigners to the same extent and under the same guarantees as of Salvadorians, has no objection to declare at the same time, which it does through my medium, that in the future, as in the past, it will continue to accept the diplomatic intervention of foreign representatives in conformity with the treaties in force and with the general provisions of international law.

Having thus answered your excellency’s referred to communication,

I have, &c.,