Upon receiving authentic information of the firing upon an American mail
steamer touching at the port of Amapala because her captain refused to
deliver up a passenger in transit from Nicaragua to Guatemala upon
demand of the military authorities of Honduras, our minister to that
country, under instructions, protested against the wanton act and
demanded satisfaction. The Government of Honduras, actuated by a sense
of justice and in a spirit of the utmost friendship, promptly disavowed
the illegal conduct of its officers and expressed sincere regret for the
occurrence.

It is confidently anticipated that a satisfactory adjustment will
soon be reached of the questions arising out of the seizure and use of
American vessels by insurgents in Honduras and the subsequent denial by
the successful Government of commercial privileges to those vessels on
that account.

A notable part of the southeasterly coast of Liberia between the Cavally
and San Pedro rivers, which for nearly half a century has been generally
recognized as belonging to that Republic by cession and purchase, has
been claimed to be under the protectorate of France in virtue of
agreements entered into by the native tribes, over whom Liberia's
control has not been well maintained.

More recently negotiations between the Liberian representative and the
French Government resulted in the signature at Paris of a treaty whereby
as an adjustment certain Liberian territory is ceded to France. This
convention at last advices had not been ratified by the Liberian
Legislature and Executive.