ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

traffic, would make for the advancement of American commercial interests in Paraguay, and that such a company should receive the informal assistance of the Department, and, under instructions of this Department, of the American Diplomatic and Consular officers located in Paraguay. I also believe that a serious, business-like advocate, of impressive qualities, confining himself to the merits of the proposition, might be able to redeem the Construction and Engineering Finance Company from its present position, generally believed by the Paraguayan public to be one of discredit, and secure for it satisfactory rights either in the nature of a new grant, or the rehabilitation of the old concession, but the latter would probably be in a more or less amended form.

The local manager of the International Products Company, an American concern reincorporated in Paraguay, makes no secret of the fact that his company will, to the utmost degree it can, resist the revival of the Construction and Engineering Finance Company's port concession unless it excludes, not by separate contract but by a stipulation actually amended into the instrument of concession, the property of the company and particularly a port it has already constructed at San Antonio, within the zone of the original Construction and Engineering Finance Company's Concession, both for private and public service. This objecting company has a very ambitious programme for its future activity in Paraguay, operating already a meat plant at San Antonio, a tanina plant at Puerto Pinasco, owning large cattle ranges, soon to establish a boat line, which, aside from serving its own ends, intends to gradually engage in public carriage, and having many other activities in contemplation. Its influence is such that it has secured the location of a branch of the Paraguayan custom house at San Antonio, where it has recently established a port of entry and despatch. It already has an investment of over $12,000,000. gold in its various activities in Paraguay and is seeking further capital for the development of its plans. Doctor Eusebio Ayala, late Minister of Exterior Relations for Paraguay, resigned his post to enter the service of this company to which he is now devoting his entire attention.

I have [etc.]

834.156/130: Telegram

DANIEL F. MOONEY

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Paraguay (Mooney)

WASHINGTON, May 14, 1921-5 p.m.

18. After several Conferences with the officials of the Department, the Asunción Port Concessions Corporation, the new Company seeking to revive the port works concession, has submitted a formal

115367-36-vol. II 40

statement in writing to the Department, covering the following points:

1. The Corporation is ready to proceed with the work immediately the concession is reinstated.

2. The Corporation will not assign the concession, but on the contrary will build and operate the port.

3. The Corporation and the International Products Company have deposited with the Department a signed statement that on May 13th the above mentioned Corporations entered into an agreement in settlement of their differences.

The Banking firm of Blair and Company, Incorporated, which firm the Department understands will finance the new project, has submitted the following statement in writing:

"We have known some of the officials of the Asuncion Port Concession Corporation well and favorably for a number of years, and, should that Corporation receive from the Government of Paraguay certain concessions, for which we understand it is negotiating, we have no doubt of its ability to obtain the financing necessary in connection with the construction of the Port of Asuncion.'

You are therefore instructed to arrange an interview with President Gondra at which you will present Dr. Baque, and state to the President that in view of the assurances submitted to the Department and in view of the willingness of the Corporation to have such changes made in the concession as may be reasonable and necessary, the Department hopes that the Government of Paraguay may find it possible to reach an agreement with the Asuncion Port Concession Corporation under which the latter may proceed to carry on the projected work in such a way as to benefit Paraguay as well as the American interests involved.

HUGHES

834.156/134

The Minister in Paraguay (Mooney) to the Secretary of State No. 806

ASUNCIÓN, June 8, 1921.
[Received July 27.]

SIR: I have the honor to inform you that in accordance with the Department's telegraphic instruction No. 18, dated May 19 [14], 1921, I have to-day presented Doctor Santiago Baque, the attorney of the Asunción Port Concession Corporation, to President Gondra, and at the same time acquainted him of such pertinent information concerning the position taken by my Government in reference to the reinstating of the concession as conformed with the Department's instruction.

'Not printed.

It is my firm belief that it is very probable an understanding may be reached facilitating the reviving of the concession, but the question of time in reference to the negotiation thereto is an extremely indeterminate question and immediately any developments are realized, this Legation will advise you in the premises.

I have [etc.]

DANIEL F. MOONEY

834.156/148: Telegram

The Chargé in Paraguay (Dickson) to the Secretary of State

ASUNCIÓN, December 2, 1921—noon.
[Received 9:30 p.m.]

41. Your 25, November 30, 6 p.m.5 Paraguayan Government inform me of their readiness to negotiate for a new continuation of modus vivendi to overcome difficulties in former concession as follows:

Firstly, to limit the contract to the construction of the first section of the port works, article 4 of the concession, together with the corresponding dredging works.

Secondly, to pay for the cost of the work by means of Paraguayan Government bonds guaranteed by duties and tariffs to be deposited as established in the law of concession as a security.

In a conversation with the President today he intimated that it would be impossible for any Paraguayan Government to reinstate the former concession without Congressional consent which he states impossible to consider and can not annul the decree canceling concession by President Franco. A new contract recognizing the work already completed together with suggested modifications would receive his support in presenting and passing through Congress convening in April, which is likely to be the quickest method of obtaining concession.

DICKSON

DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE ENGLISH AND SPANISH TEXTS OF THE EXTRADITION TREATY OF MARCH 26, 1913, BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND PARAGUAY'

235.11 B 76/40: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Paraguay (Mooney) WASHINGTON, January 13, 1921—1 p.m.

3. Department informed that William H. Bricker, who recently escaped from Argentine authorities while being held on extradition request of the United States, has been found in Paraguay. Request

'Not printed.

For English text of treaty, see Foreign Relations, 1914, p. 1053; the English and Spanish texts are printed in U. S. Treaty Series, No. 584.

Bricker's provisional arrest and detention, with view to extradition on charge of perjury, stating that warrant has been issued from a United States Court for his arrest on this charge.

DAVIS

235.11 B 76/90

The Minister in Paraguay (Mooney) to the Secretary of State No. 794

ASUNCIÓN, May 9, 1921.

[Received June 28.]

SIR: In confirmation of cablegram of this Legation, No. 19, dated May 8th at 12 o'clock, noon,' I have the honor to inform you that Doctor William H. Bricker, alias William H. Moore, a criminal fugitive from Pennsylvania, left Asunción on the 8th inst. for Buenos Aires en route for the United States. He was in the custody of Mr. Fred C. Voigt, an officer of the Philadelphia police Department, who, as a matter of precaution, was accompanied by a Paraguayan officer to the Argentine border, and will be accompanied by an Argentine officer from there to Buenos Aires.

The criminal Bricker finally contributed to his own extradition in the way of waiving further contest after the crumbling of a number of preliminary defenses he sought to interpose. The extradition, which was formally granted by the Paraguayan Court, was upon the application that he be extradited to receive sentence under his conviction for abortion in the Courts of Pennsylvania, and to answer to the charge of an indictment for a second offense of the same nature, pending in the same jurisdiction. No disposition was made of the application for his extradition on the charge of perjury. This application is still pending and the accused has refused to waive any defenses he may have hereto. This Legation is of the opinion that, under the illiberal construction controlling proceedings of a criminal and quasi-criminal nature, perjury, so designated, is not an extraditable offense under the Extradition Treaty between the United States and Paraguay.

I have [etc.]

DANIEL F. MOONEY

235.11 R 76/90

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Paraguay (Dickson) No. 183 WASHINGTON, July 11, 1921.

SIR: The Department has received Mr. Mooney's No. 794, of May 9, in further relation to the extradition of William H. Bricker, alias William H. Moore, and in reply directs you to report upon

'Not printed.

what Mr. Mooney based his opinion that "perjury, so designated ' is not an extraditable offense by treaty between the United States and Paraguay.

I am [etc.]

For the Secretary of State:
HENRY P. FLETCHER

235.11 B 76/93

The Chargé in Paraguay (Dickson) to the Secretary of State

No. 890

ASUNCIÓN, September 23, 1921.
[Received October 26.]

8

SIR: I have the honor to acquaint you with reference to my despatch No. 864 of August 29th and of a conversation I have had with the Sub-Secretary of the Foreign Office, Señor E. Egusquiza, at which time we viewed the original treaty of extradition between the United States and Paraguay and expressed our opinion respecting Article II paragraph 19, as published in the pamphlet series No. 584.

The question of interpretation of paragraph 19 from Spanish into English is not exactly the same but as the original treaty signed by Nicolay A. Grevstad and Doctor Eusebio Ayala is in both English and Spanish the Paraguayan Government withold [will hold?], according to Mr. Egusquiza's interpretation of the matter, that False Testimony is the same as Perjury according to the English version of the definition of Perjury.

Mr. Egusquiza also pointed out that Doctor Eusebio Ayala, the Paraguayan signatory of the treaty was sufficiently well versed in the English language to be certain of the exact meaning thereof. I have [etc.] SAMUEL S. DICKSON

235.11 B 76/94

The Chargé in Paraguay (Dickson) to the Secretary of State No. 929

ASUNCIÓN, October 28, 1921.
[Received December 3.]

SIR: I have the honor to refer to this Legation's despatch No. 890 of September 23rd and in connection therewith beg to transmit herewith enclosed a copy of a translation of a letter addressed to me by Dr. Eusebio Ayala, with reference to the treaty of extradition existing between the United States and Paraguay.

'Not printed.

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »