BANCROFT LIBRARY
7
THE
J
MORGAN-HONDURAS
LOAN
SECOND PART
THE EXTERNAL DEBT OF HONDURAS
ANS:
ji Co., Ltd., Printers
1912
TH1
MORGAN-HONDURAS
LOAN
SECOND PART
THE EXTERNAL DEBT OF HONDURAS
NEW ORLEANS:
The L. Graham Co., Ltd., Printew
1912
goaczoft U
0>
> INTRODUCTION.
m After the publication of the history of the Morgan Loan
2 scheme in November last, I now deem it necessary, in this second
iij Volume, to give to the public the history of the External Debt of
^
<f Honduras, basis of the Morgan proposition.
JUAN E. PAEEDES.
4*
5* New Orleans, La., January, 1912.
The Honduras Problem.
Before presenting our case we want to define our position
in 'regard to general policies, so that misunderstandings may be
avoided.
In the first place, we want to declare that stability of Govern-
ment,, order, peace, and credit, are indispensable for the develop-
ment of our country, for the welfare of our people and for the
maintenance of friendly relations and commercial intercourse with
foreign countries.
Secondly, we must frankly admit that the trouble with us in
the past has been that we have very seldom abided by our written
constitution, in so far as liberty of the press, freedom of speech,
fair elections and presidential terms are concerned; and that
party strife very often wipes out all constitutional barriers, estab-
lishing in their stead dictatorships and military rule.
And furthermore, it is an undeniable fact that the two old
political parties of Central America, called the Liberals (radicals),
and the Conservatives (clericals), have often waged wars against
each other, which have given us a bad name before the civilized
world, which hears so much of the Revolutions of Central America.
But, in the true sense of the word, we have no international
wars : our political contests are kept on party lines, regardless of
state boundaries, as we do not consider the Central American
States as foreign countries, but as temporarily separated sections
of one nation. Indemnization of war, seizure or cession of ter-
ritory are never contemplated in our peace treaties, or in the
adjustment of our differences. Our partisan struggles are family
quarrels, confined only to a change of administration and policies,
as we all regard Central America as our common country, as is
Spain to an Asturean, Italy to a Sicilian, France to a Gascon.
The Independence and Union of the Central American States
are our common inheritance, and we cherish both of them as a
sacred legacy from our ancestors.
And we believe, and sincerely believe it, that the reunion of
the Central American States is the only logical solution of our
political and economical problems; that the consolidation of the
five States under one administration is the only safe way to assure
a stable, orderly and just government, permanent peace, sound
finances, popular education and industrial and commercial
development.
\\'r trust in our I'nioii: our destiny is a United Central America
under the \Vliitt' mnl Hlur- ilag. And we expect that, sooner or
later, we will he one Xation, as the United Germany and the
United Italy of these day-.
In the meantime, we have to deal severally with the individual
States' problems.
In regard to Honduras, we may say that we have always wel-
comed anything that we deem contributory to the development of
the country and to the welfare of its people, but never have enter-
tained any idea, suggestion or proposition which might endanger
our national sovereignty and independence, or prevent the reunion
of the Central American States, to which we are solemnly pledged
by the first article of our constitution.
Although wo duly appreciate the importance and influence of
the investment of foreign capital in the development of the natural
resources of our country, we understand that the mere exploitation
of ihrni without any other consideration does not contribute to the
material growth and strength 'of the nation. If new people do
not come to stay and settle in our land, to live with us and to
become naturalized and raise their families, it would mean a mere
renunciation of our resources for the benefit of strangers. By
turn in;: over the natural resources of our country to foreign hands,
leaving not hi MM- f,, r future generations of our own, we would
stultify ourselves to the utmost.
\\V mu-t follow the example set by the United States with
their new < -on-crvat ion policy, to preserve from waste the wealth
\>\ nature for all generations.
W- "iv not disposed to turn over our natural resource- and
the management of mir own a flairs to foreign hands, and thus
put Otirselvefi in bondage and in servitude under the so-called bene-
volent nr- the American-, the I'.ritish. or any other foreign
nation, under the pretext of rehabilitation of our credit and the
illusion of prOgre8, peace and pro-parity. We have no faith in
the benevolence of CM: rernmente, u we do not believe in
meihing I',,,- nothing. \Ve BBiped this kind
aevolence, ami we doubt this BOrl of philanthropic proposi-
///'/. Morocco 'mi/ Persia an object lessons
////V///.s In ill' I II III I III/ .
Foreigners are welcome to our country with their capital,
industry, knowledge and experience, provided they come to invest
their capital and exert their activities under our laws. They must
come to work and trade on competitive lines of production and
exchange, as we do not believe in trusts or monopolies, but in free
competition and just distribution of wealth.
We are committed to the "Open Door" policy since 1853, whem
we granted the first concession for the building of the Inter-
Oceanic Eailway across our territory. We adhered to the same-
policies by public treaties with Great Britain, France, and the
United States, in 1856 and 1864. We maintain that policy and in-
tend to maintain it regardless of intervention, co-ercion or pres-
sure from the outside.
The mere suggestion of guardianship, tutelage or protec-
torate over a free people is offensive enough to create- resentment;
and we resent it indeed.
We are surprised by the change of attitude of the State De-
partment of the United States in its Central American policj'.
We recollect the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty of 1850, and all what
the United States did to prevent Great Britain from holding
territory in our country. We appreciated the good offices of "U-
cle Sam" at that time.
But when we see that under the pretext of helpfulness and
co-operation, the United States now is trying to take practical pos-
session of our country to be exlpoited by New York financiers and
promoters, taking from us not only our natural resources and our
own money, but our autonomy, too, converting us into vassals and
serfs of this new feudal system of Wall Street, then our love of
country and liberty demands of us to stand firm and united against
foreign greed.
In view of our attitude, the United States will have to come to
the open as conquerors, if they want to subjugate the Central'
American States. Then the United States would prove that the
Pan-American Union has been a farce ; they would then show their
ambitions, find prove the true meaning of the Monroe Doctrine;
and Europe would know that the object of the United States, in 1
excluding Europe from this continent, is only to preserve Latin-
America for the future prey of their greed.
We are not refractory to civilization, or blind to the signs-
10
of the times. We know that we cannot stop progress, and we under-
stand the new conditions of the business world. We know that
lack of political stability and of transportation facilities are the
main objections for the settlement of immigrants and investment
of capital in Hondunis. We know that nobody dares to immigrate
to a country of daily political disturbances and without good
roads. We are well aware of these facts, and, for the very reason,
decided long ago to open the country to foreign capital and trade,
through the construction of an Inter- Oceanic Railway across our
territory.
We believe that the proper way to develope the natural re-
sources of our country and bring capital and population to our
poil, is by means of transportation, run by steam or electricity.
In tli is point our people are all in accord and feel enthusiastic
about it.
When the Americans, British, and French failed to comply
with their contracts to build the Inter-Oceanic Railway, from 1853
to 1866, we embarked ourselves in the same scheme authorizing
the i-sue of the famous Railway Bonds which serve to-day to the
speculators and promoters of the Morgan Loan scheme to' get
control of our Inter-Oceanic route and Customs revenues of the
country with the support and assistance of the United States
Government.
After the Railway fiasco of 1872, Honduras has made many
attempts to settle the Bonds question and to proceed with the
T?ailwav construction. The subject has proved to be a knotty
problem, and remains as the stumbling block in our path to progress
ami prosperity. From its limi! solution depends to certain extent
the industrial and commercial development of the country, and
the welfare of its inhabitants.
Our view of the importance and influence of the Inter-
l,'ail\\ay on the future reh;ihilitation of Honduras is that
it will revolutioni/e our social, political and economical conditions:
that it will open ihe country to foreign capital and trade: that
the investment of capital and employment of labor in biir enter-
will contribute to hrinir peace and stability, which we \n\\
Mat the population ami wealth of the country will increase
c'noniioii.-ly hv iniriiiirranon. production and tratlic: that Bchooh,
libra: iraterworks, electric liirht plant-, factories, street
11
cars and all the comforts of modern civilization will be the nat-
ural effect of new conditions.
We understand that transportation is the basis of big produc-
tion, big markets, good profits, high wages, comfort and educa-
tion. We do not see any chance or use for big production without
a corresponding market; and for reaching that market, means of
transportation are necessary.
For these reasons we consider transportation as the corner
stone of our material progress.
But our question remains unanswered.
How to get transportation ?
Many times we have attempted to get it, but every combina-
tion has met with failure, and the Inter-Oceanic Railway Bonds
continue to be a heavy cloud over the country. And although the
British Parliament, 1875, proved the innocence of Honduras in
the Railway Loans frauds of 1867, 1869, and 1870, nevertheless the
matter stands unsettled, and the Railway has not been built, the
old Bonds have not been cancelled or refunded, and the country
remains undeveloped.
Why?
What is the difficulty?
Where is the obstacle?
!Now we come to the point when we have to use plain talk.
A conspiracy of New York promoters have for years tried
to confiscate the Inter- Oceanic Railway and to take hold of the
Custom Houses of Honduras; but the British Bondholders have
always opposed their schemes, alleging vested rights to the Rail-
way which was built with British money.
The American Government have repeatedly supported the
American claims, and the British Government have firmly sup-
ported the Bondholders rights. Protests from both sides have
prevented any final agreement or understanding.
As a solution of the difficulty Honduras entered into an ar-
rangement with the Bondholders through H. B. M. Minister,
Lionel Garden; arrangement which was officially announced to
have been accepted, but which eventually was not carried out on
account of interference by the United States Government which
brought forth the Morgan Loan scheme.
Honduras has rejected the proposition for the following rea-
sons:
12
1. The proceeds of the Loan will not benefit Honduras at
nil as one h;il I' will go to the speculators of the old Railway Bonds,
and the other half will be left in New York to be divided between
the promoters of the Loan scheme and the manipulators of the
Hail way and Wharf contracts.
B. According to the Morgan plan, only a small portion of
the Loan is to be applied to the Railway: that means that the
completion of the Inter-Oceanic Line cannot be accomplished
within 40 years,
0. The hypothecation of all the Customs Revenues, Rail-
way, and Wharf, will prevent Honduras from contracting with,
or .granting to, "third parties, the construction of the Inter-Oceanic
Railway, or negotiate a loan for that purpose.
1. No reciprocity treaties or concessions for new enterprises
are possible, as changes on the tariff or dispensation of duties can-
not be made without the consent of the Bankers.
5. Honduras cannot re-enter into the Central American-
1'n in. having her revenues tied up by Treaty and Contracts.
6. The drain of money from the country by monthly re-
mittances to New York will paralyse business and impoverish the
people.
7. ' The Custom Houses, Railway, and Wharf, being under the
direct control of the Bankers, and administered by their Agents
under the protection of the United States Government and beyond'
the control of Honduras, make such Bankers and Agents unac-
countable to Honduras for their acts; their responsibility cannot
be fixed by our laws: their abuses would be ruinous to Honduras
and
Phe linkers controlling the Custom Houses, the Railway
and Wharf and the revenues thereof will practically establish a
which will not only mean the restriction of trade, but will
make ;ib~olutelv impossible any competition in the country for all
concent not connected with the Morgan Syndicate.
ihe abo\. Qfl Honduras has rejected the proposed
in L an. ;ind declared her ^ood disposition to entertain a
new i
\Vluii kind of -ettlement would be acceptable and practicable,
and aatiifaetoi
\\Y >i ILrL r ( ^i three plan- :
13
1. A plan of gradual amortization of the old Bonds., through
a Sinking Fund formed with a percentage of the Custom Revenues,
as was proposed by the Bondholders it 1903.
2. A plan of conversion of the old Bonds by issuing new
Bonds, bearing interest, with the guarantee of a percentage of the
Custom Revenues, as was proposed in 1897.
3. The plan proposed by Minister Garden in 1909.
Any of them is practicable.-
The fundamental objection being that the British will not
be allowed to control the Inter-Oceanic Railway or the Custom
Houses of Honduras, on account of the Monroe Doctrine, we are
disposed to settle the Bonds question by paying fixed annual in-
stallments to the British, and by letting the Americans construct the
Railway; but by no means will we give up the administration of
the Custom Houses to either the British or the Americans.
Brief History of the Foreign Debt.
17
BEIEF HISTORY OF THE FOREIGN DEBT.
As the Foreign Debt and the Inter-oceanic Railway are inti-
mately connected with the so-called Morgan Honduras Loan, I
now give a brief account of the origin of the Foreign Debt and of
the many attempts and efforts which Honduras has made to settle
the debt and to obtain an inter-oceanic highway.
The Honduras Foreign Debt originated from three loans, is-
sued in London and Paris in 1867, 1869 and 1870, -respectively,
for the construction of an Inter- Oceanic Railway from Puerto
Cortes, on the Atlantic, to the Bay of Fonseca, on the Pacific.
In connection with the foregoing loans was an issue of Bonds
in 1867 for 90,000 for the ostensible conversion of the so-called
Federal Debt, which in reality had been fully paid under formal
contracts and Treaty conventions.
Actually, Honduras was solvent with the world when these
Railway transactions began- but the Government was ignorant of
the details of the Federal Debt settlement. When discovered, a
Special Commissioner was sent to London to demand cancellation
and retirement of the Bonds.
The first Railway Loan was issued for a nominal amount of
1,000,000; the second for 2,490,108; and the third for
2,500,000. Total 5,990,108, reduced by amortization to
5,398,570.
The Interest and Sinking Fund of the three Loans together
originally required an annuity of 695,700, covering a period of
15 years.
When these Loans were contracted for, it was calculated by
the Bankers and Promoters that the earnings of the Railway
would cover their service.
In the meantime, and during the construction period, the
first payments would be made from the products of mines, Maho-
gany royalities and from the proceeds of the Loans. And, it was
so provided for, because Honduras had no financial resources to
pledge for the loan service.
In 1872 the whole structure collapsed : it was founded on quick-
sand. Frauds were committed in London and Paris : the Govern-
ment was misled : the Railway contractors defaulted : only 56 miles
of road were imperfectly constructed, and the works abandoned.
18
In consequence the subscribers to the Loans found them-
selves the holders of such worthless paper, secured only by future
guarantees, that we might reasonably call them imaginary and
fictitious.
In 1873 the Bondholders decided and agreed to organize a
Joint Stock Company and change their Bonds into shares of a new
Inter-Oceanic Railway Company, and then issue new Bonds in
order to raise money to proceed with the work of construction to
complete the line. They made an agreement with the Govern-
ment of Honduras on the above basis, which, was duly ratified by
Congress.
In other words, the Bondholders agreed to accept the Railway
for the Debt, but the Company was apparently unable to raise the
necessary funds to carry on the construction of the line, incurred
debts, and returned the Railway to the Government, which paid the
debts. '
In 1875, the British, Parliament ordered an investigation of
certain Foreign Loans which had gone into default. The Hondu-
ras Loans were a subject of severe criticisms on the part of the
Parliamentary Committee, on account of enormous frauds, mis-
application of funds and lack of adequate security.
From the select .Committee's report of 1875, it appears thai
only 53 miles of road were constructed, for which the contractor*
apparently received 689,745. The balance of the proceeds of the
LI KIMS were diverted to other purposes and wasted on commissions,
discounts expenses, salaries, interest, amortization, etc., etc., in
London and Paris.
Honduras and the bona-fide purchasers of the Bonds were
the victims. Tin- British (iovernment and the Committee of Bond-
holders exonerated Honduras from the moral responsibility of the
frauds.
ftbtlttt, Honduras has always been desirous of coming
landing with the Bondholders and luis always been
to make ;in arrai)L r eni<Tit on a fair and equitable basis for
the settlement of the Kail way Debt.
In 1 Wto granted to .1. L. llanre and John
J. Waterhury. of New York, to build the I nler-Oreanic Railway.
mg wan accomplished hv this contract.
In I**:, the <;\rniim'iit L'ranl.-d a OODeeftffofl to n Mr. Bin-
19
ney, of London, who organized a new Company to construct the
Inter- Oceanic Eailway and settle the Foreign Debt.
Changes to the contract were proposed which were accepted
in 1890.
The Company was unable to raise the money required for
the R. Ed. Construction, and the concession expired in 1892.
From 1892 to 1896 the Railway was operated by Valentine
and Associates under leases.
In 1896, a contract was signed with the Honduras Railroad
Company, of New York, represented by Mr. Valentine, to the
same end and for the completion of the Inter-Oceanic Railway to
the Pacific. This Company subsequently transferred their rights
to the Honduras Syndicate.
In 1897, a contract was signed with the Honduras Syndicate
for the reconstruction of the first section of the Railway, for the
completion of the Inter-Oceanic line, the settlement of the Foreign
Debt and the establishment' of a Bank, the Syndicate being repre-
sented by Mr. Valentine, and by Henry L. Sprague, law partner
of Mr. Jennings.
This Syndicate was composed of the following prominent
New York Capitalists, Lawyers, Financiers and Promoters :
Chauncey M. Depew, W. Seward Webb,
John Jacob Astor, Benjamin F. Tracy,
J. C. McCullough, Frederick B. Jennings,
Geo. S. Scott, Nathaniel A. Prentiss,
Charles McVeigh, Melville E. Ingalls, Jr.
The Syndicate found out later on that this plan was im-
practicable, and disagreements arose. They failed to arrange the
Debt or build the Railway.
In 1900, the same Syndicate contracted again with the
Government for the construction of the Railway, from La Pimienta
to the Pacific, cancelling the obligations for the settlement of the
Foreign Debt and the Bank scheme, and absolutely terminating
the, contract of 189 7. The Syndicate and the Government obli-
gated themselves not to make or continue any reclamation, or exact
indemnization of any character, by reason of the Contract that day
terminated, in respect to any reclamation or indemnization relating
to failure of compliance or acts prior to that date.
20
Tliis contract was approved by Decree No. 2, of the National
Congress, May 26th, 1900.
In 1902, the Syndicate asked for, and obtained from the
Executive, an extension of time of one year to carry out their
obligations, subject to the approval of Congress.
In order to obtain this extension of time the Syndicate,
through its legal representative agreed, that in case the National
Congress at its next session should not approve the extension of
time, or in case the time should expire and the Syndicate did not
comply meanwhile with the obligations of their contract, they
would peaceably surrender the Railway without reclamations for
indemnization, and renouncing arbitration.
In 1903, this extension of time expired, and the Syndicate
delivered the Railway to the Government in conformity with their
agreement of 1902.
The Syndicate then filed a claim against Honduras for $1,-
056,393.
In the same year the Council of Foreign Bondholders made
a proposition for the settlement of the Debt and completion of
the Inter-Oceanic Railway. Honduras was asked to pay $100,000
per year, rising by four-yearly increments of $20,000, in order to
cancel all the old bonds in 27 years retiring 200,000 Bonds per
year by a total payment of $4,200,000.
The United States Government objected to this arrangement
through its Legation by the following communication:
(Telegram.)
(iuatemala, July, 3, 1903.
Minir-h-r nf Foreign KVlat ions. Tegucigalpa:
"M Governmenl disapprove- of the terms of the proposal of
the Sijiiicr Svndicat".
"I am oppo^-d that an American Corporation shall be Ihe
medium of cclrl.iatinir an aiTaiiL r enirnt between Honduras and the
landholders with respect in a Debt relative to which is
illegalities and injustice.
the honor of a reply by idcLrraph to this 016881
. LESLIE COMB!
Mini-ii-r of tin- I'niled States.
21
In 1904., Honduras signed an agreement, through Minister
Ugarte in New York,, with the Squier Syndicate to the effect
that the Syndicate should buy the first section of the Railway for
$500,000, paying proceeds to the Bondholders on account of the
Debt, and finish the Inter-Oceanic Railway, within a certain
period. Honduras was disposed to accept this proposal of the
Bondholders, and to pay $100,000 per year from the Revenues
collected at the Custom House of Puerto Cortes, for the amortiza-
iion of the balance of the old Bonds at 8% of their face value
without interest. In this manner the whole Debt could be cancelled
by paying $2,159,428 less value of Bonds amortized with the
proceeds of the Railway.
This plan was, however, abandoned on account of objections
raised by the United States Government.
In 1908, the same Squier Syndicate advanced a new proposi-
tion to the Government of Honduras, which was declared unac-
ceptable by the Bondholders.
In 1909, the British Minister to Central America, Mr. Lionel
Garden, arrived at Tegucigalpa for the purpose of making an
arrangement for the settlement of the Foreign Debt. On the 10th
of March, he presented to the Government a proposal which was
treated and finally agreed to on the following basis :
The amount of the debt was fixed at 452,000, discarding
all back interest of 38 years, but charging interest at 8.86% for
the following 40 years.
Principal and Interest cumulated for 40 years would amount
to 1,600,000, to be paid by annual installments of 40,000 each.
These annuities were to be applied to the amortization of old
bonds by drawings or by purchases.
For the payment of said annuities of 40,000, the Govern-
ment compromised itself and ceded to the Bondholders the
Revenues of the Railroad and Wharf at Puerto Cortes, and 15%
additional charge on the Import duties.
In order to put said Railway in a state of repair, to build
branches, and to extend the same to the south, the Government
and the Bondholders agreed that the Republic should issue new
Bonds to the amount of $500,000 (100,000), secured by the net
earnings of the Railway; thus constituting a preferential charge
on the same.
22
The Government insisted on raising to $1,000,000 (200,000) r
i In- amount of the new Loan, and the Bondholders gave their
assent, with the approval of the British Government through the
British Legation.
(Telegram No. 14 v!.)
Guatemala, June 25, 1900.
His Excellency, President Davila, Tegucigalpa:
"T>y instructions received from my Government I have the
honor to advise your Excellency the acceptance on the part of the
Foreign Bondholders of London, of the Basis of arrangement of
the External Debt of Honduras proposed by your Excellency on
the llth of March, of the current year.
"At the same time I have the pleasure of expressing the satis-
faction with which the Government of H. B. M. has seen the
good disposition and conciliatory spirit displayed by the Govern-
ment of your Excellency in the negotiations due to which it was
made possible to arrive at a solution so satisfactory and honorable
for both parties.
i signed) BRITISH MINISTER.
It was also agreed that should the Revenues compromised in
the agreement not cover an annuity in any one year, the deficit
was to he paid only from the surplus of coming years.
Also, that should there be any surplus, or balance, in favor
of the (iovcnmicnt, it was to be applied to the extension of the
liailroad which remained the property of the Government.
Tlii- plan would have work"d out as follows:
REVENUES,
of I.'. I.M. gross -ani ings, yearly * 1 (i.SOO.on
of \Vharf groa earning, yearly 43.200.00
Of additional charges on 'Import Duties.... 108,000.00
10.00
hKI'.T 8EBVICE,
filtered on $I.IMII..IIIII) \,. u I'M, nds $ r.n.ooo.no
>:nking l-'inid 000,000 \.-w Bonds.... 10,000.00
fl<>. MIX! I 1 ,,,- amorii/ation Old I'.nmU. . ,000.00
80,000.00
M ear :
23
This estimate of revenue is based upon actual products. But
with the extension of Railway to new banana fields the earnings
of same and Wharf would increase sufficiently to cover the deficit
within the next two years.
In order to remedy this feature of the agreement., and avoid
any temporary deficit, the Government was disposed, in recogni-
tion of the large advance made to improve- the Railroad, to fix a
certain amount from the Revenues collected at the Custom House
of Puerto Cortes, worth $800,000 silver a year equivalent to
$320,000 gold; and from its Customs the Government would dis-
pose of $150,000 a year.
In this way the annuity could be made out as follows :
40% gross earnings of Railroad yearly $ 76,300.00
90% gross earnings of Wharf yearly 43,200.00
Puerto Cortez Customs 150,000.00
Total $270,000.00
Surplus , 10,000.00
Any surplus to be applied to the Railroad construction.
It was agreed, and expressly stipulated, that the Government
and the Bondholders should contract with a third party for the
construction, equipment, maintenance and operation of said Rail-
road and Wharf, and that their net proceeds be applied to the
purpose aforesaid.
But nowhere in this agreement appears anything to show that
the construction of the Inter-Oceanic Railway was prevented.
The new Loan was only secured by the net earnings of the
Railway.
It was contemplated that at the time of drawing up of the
contract for the reconstruction and operation of the Railway, alJ
provisions would be made for the completion of the line to the
Pacific Ocean, leaving open the door for new propositions.
On account of the Claims of the Honduras Syndicate and W.
S. Valentine, the United States Government inter f erred to break
up this arrangement. The Morgan proposition was brought for-
ward by the United States Government and the Government of
Honduras was urged to accept it under heavy pressure.
24
THE MORGAN PROPOSITION.
In July 1909, Mr. Morgan got an option from the Council
of Foreign Bondholders in London, to acquire the Honduras Bonds
at 15% of their face value, with their unpaid coupons attached,
provided that a settlement of the Honduras Debts could be ar-
ranged between the United States and Honduras prior to August
4th, 1910.
This option was subsequently extended to February 4th, 1911.
To carry this scheme through, the United States Government
on July 17, 1909, invited Honduras to deal with Messrs. J. P.
Morgan and Company, as may be seen by the following:
MEMORANDUM.
"Under instructions from my Government, which I have just
received by telegraph, I have the honor and the pleasure to inform
the Government of Honduras that the firm of J. P. Morgan and
Company has informed my Government that they are prepared to
agree on the arrangement of the Foreign Debt of Honduras, the
delivery of the Railway and Wharf of Puerto Cortes and the ad-
vancement of a substantial amount for internal improvements
which may be necessary, acquiring new bonds which must be duly
secured/'
"Messrs. Morgan and Company have notified my Government
that the Council of Foreign Bondholders had accepted the pro-
posal of Morgan and Company, who now have control of the
British and American securities, including the Railway and Wharf,
and that the Council of Foreign Bondholders, acting on behalf
of the holders of Bonds, have informed the British Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs of the foregoing, and that the Secretary
ate for Foreign Affairs, having cordially approved the new
project has, by ic ( |u,^j of the Council of Bondholders, pven notice
Garden of the chan.Lre in the -ilualion.
"I ! met ions to manifest thai if the Government of
\v.uld send ;i special A'jent to I he Tinted Siaies with
full : in and Company. Hie ("Jovrrn-
: nited States would extend lo him all facilities.
"I beg to add thai ihe Gtavenunenl of ihe run a feels
itself happy to see, in the said proposals, the prospect of a good
25
result and for a settlement upon a favorable basis for the amortiza-
tion of the National Debt which would be for the prosperity, tran-
quility and national strength of Honduras/'
(Signed) PHILIP BEOWN.
Surprised by this invitation in the face of an agreement closed
with creditors, and approved by the British Government, the
Government of Honduras, before complying with the indication
from the State Department, addressed the British Minister, to
know the situation, and received the following communication:
British Legation, Guatamala, July 31, 1909.
To His Excellency, Don Jose Maria Ochoa,
Minister of Foreign Eelations, Tegucigalpa.
Mr. Minister:
"Under instructions from H. B. M. Government I must mani-
fest to your Excellency, for the information of the Government of
Honduras, that the Council of Foreign Bondholders feels sorry
that (circumstances foreign to their will had obliged them to
abandon the agreements for the settlement of the Debt to which
they had previously consented.
"The Government of Your Excellency is therefore relieved of
the compromise made with the British Bondholders and is free
to enter into new arrangements.
"I have sent to-day, instructions by telegraph, to H. B. M.
Consul ad interim in Tegucigalpa to notify Your Excellency in
the sense above referred to.
"I avail of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the
protests of my most distinguished consideration and esteem."
(Signed) LIONEL CAEDEN.
The Minister of Finance of Honduras (Senor Juan E.
Paredes), was sent to New York as "Special Financial Agent" of
his Government, for the purpose of seeing what overtures Mr.
Morgan would make for the proposed settlement of the Debt. He
was accompanied by the Secretary to the President of Honduras
(Senor Valladares).
Mr. Paredes had two interviews with Mr. Davison, of J. P.
Morgan and Company, after which Mr. Frederick B. Jennings,
of the Law Firm of S'tetson, Jennings and Eussell, took up the
26
subject with Mr. Paredes, in behalf of the State Department and
of the Bankers.
Mr. Ji-nnin(/s was a member of the Honduras Syndicate, wliO:
has a Claim agamst Honduras. He made the Drafts of the
proposed agreements and insisted on including the Claims in the
Contract, and did his utmost to prevent their discussion, in order
to force Honduras to yield to the conditions imposed by Morgan.
His plan was as follows :
"To issue $10,000,000 at 88% of their nominal value, with
5% Interest for Sinking Fund, to be redeemed in 40 years.
"The net proceeds of the Loan to be divided among the
Bankers (J. P. Moroni and Associates), the claimants Honduras
Syndicate (Frederick B. Jennings, Henry L. Sprague, W. S'.
Valentine, etc.), and the Railway and Wharf lessees (W. S.
Valentine, Geo. Scott, Henry L. Sprague, Frederick S'. Jennings,
etc.), and the remainder,, if any, to the Railway contractors.
"As security of the new Bonds Honduras must give up all
Customs Revenues, the Railway arfd the Wharf at Puerto Cortes,
to be administered by the hankers" own Agents, the products to
]> remitted to the Fiscal Audit of the Loan at NVw York.
In this way Honduras would be deprived of its principal
revenues during \o years. The annual disbursements would be
as follow- :
5% Interest OB $10.000,000 Bonds $500,000.00
\% amortization on $10,000,000 Bonds 100,000.00
Customs collection expenses 40,000.00
Fiscal Agency Kxpenses 10,000.00
Total $(j:,0.(MM).on
COMPARISON.
Annuity as per Minim's proposition *i;:>i>.00(>.00
Annuity a- per Canlen's proposition '><;<. non. on
Mnouftl equivalent i |W5 t QOO.DO
silver a year, which n pn-enN the remainder .if total Custom*
uider the ( 'ardri: .-nj. which was absolute 1
27
quired by Honduras to cover the annual expenses of the administra-
tion.
In 40 years, therefore, we would pay extra under the Morgan
plan, $15,600,000; but it is not only a question of paying in excess
this enormous amount, but that the country cannot afford to
pay $650,000 a year, as the total income from the government
revenues amounts only to $3,500,000 (silver), equivalent to
$1,400,000 gold. The balance left to the Administration for all
its different departments would be only $750,000, which is a ma-
terial impossibility.
As in the distribution of the proceeds of the loan only a
small portion is set aside for material improvements, the develop-
ment of the country is not assured, neither the increase of he
revenues; and if the actual income of the Government is reduced
to $750,000, then Honduras could not even maintain her exist-
ing status of progress.
To deprive Honduras of her Eevenues for the benefit of N"ew
York Bankers, means drawing away all the money in circulation
i-n the country, bringing poverty to her people and paralization
to her commerce.
It is incredible that the people of the United S'tates in view
of -such flagrant injustice, would consent to the spoliation of a
neighboring Eepublic on account of its being weak and powerless
to prevent such iniquity.
The ruin of Honduras would undoubtedly affect the business
y *^
interests of all Americans who are looiring southward to increase
their trade.
Honduras is a good field for financial investments and busi-
ness enterprises on a sound basis, provided equal opportunities
are given to all competitors.
The country is rich in natural resources, unexcelled in
climate, and once she gets transportation her rapid development
will be an accomplished fact.
But, if a New York combination, composed of the represen-
tatives of the most formidable monopolies in existence, are allowed
to unjustly take control of the country and its" resources, then all
opporunity for competitive enterprises and legitimate investment
of capital by others will be forever destroyed.
Setting aside consideration of monetary losses and economic
28
results for Honduras, its citizens must reflect over a more serious
aspect of the proposals embraced in the Treaty and Bankers' and
Fiscal Agents' agreements.
We must consider the loss of National Independence, and
when we become contractual vassals of the money powers and
monopoly, this heritage will be transmitted to our children instead
of the precious legacy of freedom handed down to us by our fore-
fathers.
It we become a consenting party, we commit a crime against
our country and against our posterity.
DOCUMENTS.
First
Honduras Railway Loan,
London, 1867.
33
HONDURAS LOAN OF ONE MILLION STERLING.
LONDON, 1867.
HONDURAS GOVERNMENT RAILWAY LOAN.
1,000,000.
"In Bonds to Bearer, 100, 500, and 1,000 each, bearing
10 per cent. Annual Interest, payable half-yearly in sterling,
Issued at 80 per cent, and to be redeemed at par, in sterling, within
17 years, by Yearly Drawings, by means of an Accumulative Sink-
ing Fund of 3 per cent per annum.
"The first Drawing will take place on December 31, 1869.
"The payments by Subscribers will be as follows:
5 per ce
10 "
10 "
15 "
20 "
20 "
at. on
on
on
on
on
on
application
s.
d.
5
10
9
13
17
18
s.
10
8
10
2
d.
W*
9
6
allotment
January 1st, 1868, less int..
July 1st, 1868, less int
January 1st, 1869, less int. .
April 1st, 1869, less int
1
2
1
9
11
10
17
3 2
6
80 per cent. 73 11 10V 2
"Interest will be payable on the 1st of July and the 1st of
January in each year, at the London and County Bank, and, for the
first installment of 15, will date from October 1, 1867.
"In default of payment of any of the respective installments,,
all previous payments will be liable to forfeiture.
"The installments may be anticipated at any time at Bank of
England rate.
"The Government of Honduras having agreed to appropriate
to the Subscribers a moiety of the net profits of the Railway dur-r
ing 15 years after the complete repayment of the present Loan,.
Subscribers will receive as bonus, within one month after allot-
ment, with each 100 Bond, one 10,000th deferred fully paid-up^
Railway Share to Bearer, entitling the holder thereof to receive
his proportion of such net profits.
34
PROSPECTUS.
"The President of the Republic of Honduras, being duly
authorized, has given full powers to Mons. Victor Herran, Minister
at Paris, and Senor Don. Carlos Gitlerrez, Honduras Minister in
London, to contract on account of the Government a Loan, to be
applied towards the construction of an Inter- Oceanic Railway from
Puerto Cabal los, on the Atlantic, to the Bay of Fonseca, on the
Pacific.
"To show the importance attached by the British Government
to the Honduras Inter-Oceanic Railway, it may be stated that the
line has been surveyed on the part of Her Majesty's Government,
by Lieutenant Solonel Stanton, R. E., and a detachment of Royal
Engineers sent- out for the purpose. Colonel Stanton reports, 'that
the harbors at both termini are unexceptionable/ and that the road
can be constructed without any sharper curves or heavier gradients
than are to be found on existing lines over which locomotives work
without difficulty.
"The new Treaty betwejen Honduras and Great Britain de-
clares that:
"In order to secure the construction and permanence of the
route or road herein contemplated, and to secure for the benefit
of mankind the uninterrupted advantage of such communication
from sea to sea, Her Britannic Majesty recognizes the rights of
sovereignty and property of Honduras in and over the line of the
said road, and for the same reason guarantees, positively and effica-
ciously, the entire neutrality of the same. And when the proposed
road shall have been completed, Her Britannic Majesty equally
engages, in conjunction with the Republic of Honduras, to pro-
tect the same from interruption, seizure, or unjust confiscation,
fnun whatsoever quarter the attempt may proceed.
'tied by the Honduras Government with France
siiii tin- Tinted States contain the same provisions, and the Frencli
"Government, consider-ini: the public utility of the Honduras IJail-
! the offieiiil quotation of the Honduras Loan on
the Paris Bourse.
followini: official ivpor! l.v l.'ear-. \dmiral |)a\is. made
to tho Secretn n of tin- \a\\ of tin- Tnifed 8'tai nment, in
compliance with a resolution of the American CongTCflfl on ihe I'.Mli
35
of March, 1866., demonstrates likewise the importance which the
United States Government attaches to the construction of the Hon-
duras Line :
"The reader who follows the course of the surveyors, natura-
lists, and geologist from the capacious, safe, and excellent harbor
of Puerto Caballos, through regions remarkable for their salubrity,
fertility, great variety of climate and productions, and valuable
mineral resources, to the waters of the splendid harbor of La
Union (Bay of Fonseca), cannot but regret that capitalists have
not found it to their interest to carry out one of the most promis-
ing and one of the least embarrassing enterprises of the day. 7 '
"The Line of Railway has been carefully selected and surveyed
lv Mr. Trautwine (late Engineer-in-Chief of the Panama Rail-
way), and an efficient Staff; and a contract has been entered into
for the construction of the whole line, with Stations and Rolling
Stock, for a stipulated sum of about 8,000 a mile, including
every outlay, and the works are to be proceeded with in sections.
"From time to time, as the installments of the present loan
are received, the proportion to be applied to the construction of
the first section of the Railway will be handed to and held by
trustees, in trust to pay the contractor the installments on his con-
tract, as certified by the Government Engineer. The balance of
the Loan will be applied in clearing the forests, and in payment of
^ engineering and other incidental expenses.
"The Interest and Sinking Fund are specially guaranteed by
a first charge upon the intended Railway itself and its revenue,
and also by a first mortgage upon the whole of the domains and
Mahogany forests of the State of Honduras, which, according to
to official report, are of immense value.
"It is arranged that the whole of the products of the above
mortgaged State Domains and Forests shall be consigned direct
to London by the Honduras Government, to Messrs. Bischoft'sheim
and Goldschmidt, who will pay over the proceeds of the sales to-
wards the Annual Interest and Sinking Fund, and the construc-
tion of .the remaining section of the Railway.
"It has been further arranged in the Contract, that, as soon as
any portion of the Railway is completed, the Contractor shall bring
down to the Terminus, free of charge, by the return empty wagons,
any produce of the Government Forests and Domains that may be
ready for shipment to England.
36
inning at the harbor of Puerto Caballos, on the Atlantic,,
the Railway will proceed over the table-land of Honduras, in a line
of 230 miles, to the Bay of Fonseca, on the Pacific.
"The ports at either end are spacious,, safe, and easily accessible
for the largest ships.
"The steaming distances from Liverpool to S'an Francisco,,
touching at Jamaica, are : by way of Panama, 7,980 miles ; Nicara-
gua, 7,720 miles; Tehauntepec, 7,740 miles; Honduras, 7,320 miles.
"The distance between New York and San Francisco, by
Panama, is 5,224 miles; by Nicaragua, 4,700 miles; by Tehaunte-
pec, 4,200 miles; by Honduras, 4,121 miles a saving by way of
Honduras, as compared with Panama, the only line on which a
Railway is already constructed, of 1103 miles.
"The difference in actual distance, coupled with the superiority
of ports, the facilities of embarkation and disembarkation, and the
connection with the American coast lines, will effect a saving in
time, as compared with the Panama Route, of no less than five
days between the Atlantic and Pacific ports of the United States.
"This line will afford the easiest, safest, and speediest route
between Great Britain and British Columbia; it will also afford the
increased facilities of first-class ports for the establishment of
speedy intercourse with Australia and New Zealand, and will bring
/Jamaica, Belize, and other British Possessions in the West Indies,
into the direct line of communication.
Last year the dividend paid by the Panama Company was at
the rate of 24 per cent per annum on a capital of 1,600,000, in
;;dd it ion to a bonus of 40 per cent from accumulated profits. The
Honduras Line will, in all probability, return as much profit as
the Panama Line, if not considerably more.
^uflicient of the proceeds of the present issue will be applied
to th construction of the first section, from Puerto Caballos to
Santiago. This section will enable the exportation of the
Mahogany, etc.. t<> take, place, the means of transport now existing
\pcn-ive to he remunerative. Careful estimates have
I the Honduras Government that the surplus revenue of the
Stnt. hornain- and r'oiv>ts will be amply sufficient to complete the
whole line, without any further issue of stock; but in case it should
be found ad\ant;iLM'Mii-. <>n aeeount of i iicreasi nr traflic. In accelerate
tin- opening of ih.- li,iil\\;i\ from sea to Bea, by rai-ini: more money,.
37
further Stock will be issued for the construction of the remaining
sections of the Bailway.
"The several contracts and other documents can be inspected
at the office of Messrs. Baxter, Rose, Norton and Company, Solici-
tors No. 6, Victoria Street, Westminister.
"Applications for the Loan will be received from Monday,
the llth of November, to Friday, the 15th of November, by the
London and County Bank, 21 Lombard S'treet, and Branches, where
Prospectuses and Forms of Application can be obtained; and in
Paris, by Messrs. Bischoffheim, Goldschmidt and Company, 26,
Hue de la Chaussee d' Antin. Payment on application for the
Loan can also be made at the Bank of France and Branches."
Second
Honduras Railway Loan,
Paris, 1869.
41
HONDURAS LOAN OF 207,509 BONDS OP 300 FRANCS
EACH. PARIS,, 1869.
INTER-OCEANIC RAILWAY CONNECTING THE
ATLANTIC WITH THE PACIFIC.
SECURED LOAN TO THE GOVERNMENT OF HONDURAS.
(CENTRAL AMERICA.)
Subscription, 207,509 Bonds.
Price of the Bonds, 225 francs, payable as follows:
25 francs on subscription With the right of paying one
50 francs on allotment or more of these installments in
50 francs on 1st June (1869) advance, and receiving a dis-
50 francs on 1st July (1869) count at the rate of 6 per cent
50 francs on 1st Aug. (1869) per annum.
Returns. Repayment, Participating Shares.
"Interest. Twenty francs a year, paid half-yearly on the 1st
of March and the 1st of September, at Paris, Brussels, Antwerp,
Geneva, in cash without -any tax or deduction, and also at Berlin,
Hamburg, Amsterdam, Frankfort, Genoa, New York, at the rate
of the day. The first coupon is due on the 1st of September next.
"Repayment. At par in seventeen years by half-yearly draw-
ings before a Notary at Paris; the first drawing will be paid in
cash on the 1st of September, without any tax or deduction what-
ever.
"Participating Shares. Each, Bond will be replaced as soon
as it is drawn by a Participating Share, which will entitle the
owner, after the repayment of the Loan, and during a period of
fifteen years, to a proportional share in the third part of the
revenues of the Line.
"This participation is estimated at a minimum of 50 francs
per annum.
"As the periods of the different payments and profits since the
first of March last reduce the price of the subscription to about
220 francs, the produce of the debentures, taking into consideration
the premium of repayment, exceeds 12 per cent, without reckoning
the value of the Participating Shares.
42
<i I . Mi'ANTEES FOR THE DEBENTURES.
(a) Mortgage on the Railway and on its Revenue.
(b) Mortgage on the domains arid forests of the State,, of
which the annual revenue,, according to the official report of the
engineers, amply exceeds the sum necessary for the regular payment
of interest and redemption.
(c) Convinced of the commercial and political importance
of the Inter-Oceanic Honduras Railway, the Governments of
France, England, and the United States have, by international
treaties, specially guaranteed the inviolability and neutrality of
the undertaking, from the opening of the Line.
(d) A Commission has been appointed to superintend the
employment of the Loan, which is to be exclusively devoted to the
completion of the Line already in process of construction.
This Commission is composed of:
His Excellency, M. V. Herran, Officer of the Legion of Honor^
President (0.) ; and MM. L. Pelletier, Chevalier of the Legion of
Honor, an eminent merchant (C.).
R, Bischoffsheim.
M. Scheyer.
(e) The execution of the Line is "entrusted, by contract, to
Messrs. Waring Brothers and MacCaudlish, of London.
Distance from New York to San Francisco:
My way of Panama 9,730 kilometres.
By way of Honduras 8,074 kilometres.
Thus the Honduras route saves 1,65(5 kilometres.
"Tin- proceeds of the Panama Line an 1 well known. The
annual traffic is about 200,000 passengers, and meivhandise valued
IT a thousand million franc-.
(f) Tin* statement of the Sinking Fund of the Loan, the
P8, the Intel-national Treaties, are deposited
in the Chancellor's OHier ,,!' tin- Legation. 1,'ne de la Chjiusse,- d'
Antin. where the puhlie may inspect them.
Y. IIKIM.'AN.
MniMT Plenipotentiary of I l.mdura-.
43
"The subscription will be open on Wednesday the l'9tli, to
Friday the 28th of May, from eight in the morning until five in
the evening,, in the following towns:
Paris. At the Chancellor's Office of the Legation, and of the
Consulate General of Honduras, 10 Rue de la Chaussee d' Antin;.
at Messrs. Dreyfus, Scheyer and Company, Government bankers,.
Rue de la Grange Bateliere 16.
"Subscription may be paid at all the branches of the Bank
of where the Government has deposited the provisional and defini-
tive shares of the Loan.
"The subscription will also be opened at Brussels, Hanover,.
Berlin, Hamburg, Amsterdam.
"Subscribers who wish to pay up beforehand may send at
once the whole sum, 223 francs, 90 cents per share, less discount,
and the definitive shares will be delivered or sent to them.
"After the subscription is completed, even if before the 25th.
of May, no fresh subscription will be taken."
Third
Honduras Railway Loan,
London, 1870.
47
HONDURAS LOAN OF TWO MILLION" FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND POUNDS. LONDON, 1870.
1870.
"Honduras 10 per cent Government Railway Loan 2,500,000.
"In 25,000 Bonds of 100 each, bearing 10 per cent Annual
Interest, payable half-yearly, viz., on 1st of January and 1st of
July.
"Issued at 80 per cent, and to be redeemed at par, in Sterling,
v.'ithin 15 years, by Yearly Drawings, on the 31st of December in
each year, by means of an accumulative Sinking Fund of 3 per
cent per annum.
"The first drawing to take place on the 31st of December,
1870.
"The installments to be paid as follows :
15 per cent, on Allotment.
10 per cent, on 1st. of August.
10 per cent, on 1st. of September.
15 per cent, on 1st, of October.
15 per cent, on 1st. of Xovember.
15 per cent, on 15 of December, when definitive Bonds,
with a Coupon of 5 payable on the 1st of January at-
tached, will be given in exchange for scrip.
80 per cent.
"Interest will date from the 1st. of July.
"The installments may be anticipated at any time when an
installment falls due, under discount at the Bank of England
rate.
PROSPECTUS.
"His Excellency, Senor Don. Carlos Gutierrez, Minister
Plenipotantiary of the Government of the Republic of Honduras
to the Court of St. James, being authorized by full powers, dated
48
the 14th. of March, 1870, to raise for his Government a Loan of
Two Millions Sterling net, for the completion from sea to sea of
the Inter-Oceanic Honduras Bail way. lias instructed the London
and County Bank to receive applications for same.
"The Loan will be represented by Bonds to bearer of 100
each, bearing interest, until redeemed, at the rate of 10 per cent
per annum, payable half-yearly on the 1st. of January and the 1st..
of July in each year, at the London and County Bank.
"The whole Loan will be redeemed within 15 years by an ac-
cumulative Sinking Fund of 3 per cent per annum, to be applied
liy annual drawings, the said drawings to take place on the 31st.
of December in each year, in the presence of the Honduras
Minister in London, a representative of Messrs. Bischoffsheim and
Goldschmidt, and a Notary Public, and the Bonds so drawn will
be paid within one month thereafter.
'This Loan is raised to complete the Inter-Oceanic Railway,
and to place the Line from sea to sea in thorough and efficient
working order. As in the case of the previous Loan, the proceeds
of the present Loan will be paid into the hands of Trustees ap-
pointed for that purpose.
"The entire Railway and its revenues is mortgaged to the
Bondholders of all denominations, and the proceeds of the State
domains will be applied in a like manner.
"The first section is contracted to be finished next November.
Messrs. Waring Brothers and MacCaudlish have undertaken, under
heavy penalty, to complete the second section at the end of 1871;
and a new contract has been signed with them to complete the
entire Kail way from Puerto Cahallos, on the Atlantic Coa>t, to
the Bay of Fonseca, on the Pacific, and to deliver it over in etficient
working order in the Autumn of 1872.
'Tin- Railway is under the protection of the British (Jovern-
ni.'iit by a Treaty, which d< dares:
"In order to secure the construction and permanence of the
route or road herein contemplated, and also to secure for the benefit
of mankind the uninterrupted advantages of such communication
from sea t. sea, Her Kritannic Ma jest v reeogni/es the right- "f
\ and property of Iloiidiira< in and over the line of
the said road, and for the same rea-oii 'jiiarantees, positively and
on-!v. the entire iieutralitv uf the same. And when the
49
proposed road shall have been completed, Her Britannic Majesty
equally engages, in conjunction with the Republic of Honduras,
to protect the same from interruption, seizure or unjust confisca-
tion, from whatsoever quarter the attempt may proceed."
Treaties signed by the Honduras Government with France
and the United States contain the same provisions.
"A general Bond, executed by His Excellency, Don. Carlos
Gutierrez, on behalf of the Government of Honduras, will be de-
posited at the Bank of England for security of the entire Loan,
and the Definitive Bonds of this Loan will be signed by His Excel-
lency, Don Carlos Gutierrez, on behalf of his Government, and
countersigned by Messrs. Bischoffsheim and Goldschmidt, agents
of the Government in England.
"Applications for the Loan will be received by the London
and County Bank, 21, Lombard Street, and Branches, where
Prospectuses and Forms of Application can be obtained.
"London, June 20th, 1870."
Honduras Interoceanic Railway Company, Ltd.
1873.
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION OF THE HONDURAS
IXTER-OCEANIC RAILWAY COMPANY (LIMITED).
1873.
1, The name of the Company is the Honduras Inter-Oceanic
Railway Company, Limited.
2, The Registered Offices of the Company will be in Eng-
land..
3, The objects for which the Company is established are the
following :
(A) To obtain from the Government of the Republic of
Honduras and accept concessions or grants of all or any of the
following Railways,, works, lands, rights, powers and privileges,
viz:
(a) Such portion of the Honduras Inter-Oceanic Rail-
way as is already completed and open for traffic,
or is in course of construction, together with all
the Stations, houses, buildings, wharves, quays,
jetties, and appurtenances thereto belonging or at-
tached, or forming part thereof, together with all
the rolling stock, plant, machinery, rails, materials,
stores, equipments, and other effects belonging to
the Government, and used, or intended to be used,
for the construction, equipment, maintenance or
working of the said Railway with its appurten-
ances, or for* any of the purposes thereof.
(b) The land required for the completion of the said
Railway, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific
Ocean, with all necessary and proper wharves,
quays, jetties, and other conveniences,
(c) Such lands, adjoining or near to the said Rail-
way, as may be agreed on between the said Govern-
ment and the Company, with such exclusive rights
of cutting and exporting timber grown thereon
free of duty and other charges, as may also be
agreed on.
54
(d) Such of the mines belonging to the Government
of Honduras, and at present unallotted, and at
the disposal of the State, as may be agreed on
between the Government and the Company, subject
to such royality (if any), whether fixed or
fluctuating, as may also be agreed upon.
(B) To construct, complete, maintain, equip, and work the
said Eailway, and to work, let, manage, and grant licenses for
the working of all or any of the Company's lands, land rights,
timber, mines and mineral rights, and to export, sell, and dispose
of the produce thereof.
(C) To sell, demise, or otherwise dispose of, all or any of
the lands, mines, rights and privileges, or other property of the
Company (including the said Kailway, with its appurtenances).
(D) To acquire any other concessions, grants, or privileges
from the Government of Honduras, or any other foreign Govern-
ment, and to enter into any contracts with any Government, Cor-
poration, or persons, for any of the purposes of the Company.
(E) To obtain the incorporation of the Company as a.
Societe Annonyme, or Sociedad Anonima. according to the laws
of the Republic of Honduras, or any Foreign State, relating to
joint stock companies.
(F) To do all such other things as are incidental or condu-
cive to any of the foregoing purposes.
1. The liability of the members is limited.
5. The capital of the Company is 5,347,720, divided into
30,427 Shares of 100 each, to be called A Shares; 177,135 Shares
of 12 each, to be called B Shares; and S.D70 Shares of 20 each,
to be called C Shares.
The Shares may be issued as fully paid up to the holders of
the bonds of tbe Honduras (Jovernment Railway Loans, issued in
London, in ISI'M and 1*10, or tin- loan issued in Paris in the
year 1>.'.. or of thr Federal Debt of the State of Honduras i
in 1867, in exchange for their bonds in the proportion of one
share for even I' 100 in either of the said Loans, and so in pro-
jM.rtion for Umd- o|' any larger or l< B8er denominations. The Com-
IMII\ - lit from any of the Suh-rrihers of Iliis Memorandum
Und- of th -aid Honduras QOTeTl tnenl loans of ISC,;. lS(i! and
1870, or of the said TVdrral debt in or toward- payment of the
shar* 'ihed for !.\ them dv at par."
55
APPENDIX TO THE MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF THE HONDUEAS INTER-OCEANIC RAILWAY
COMPANY, LIMITED.
ISSUE OF SHARE CAPITAL FOR CONVERSION.
THE HONDURAS INTER-OCEANIC RAILWAY COMPANY,
LIMITED.
INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACTS, 1862 AND 1867.
ISSUE FOR CONVERSION.
The Share Capital of the Company amounts to the sum of
5,347,720, to be represented by the conversion of the Bonds held
in the existing Honduras Loans.
29,638 "A" Shares of 100 each 2,963,800
8,970 "C" Shares of 20 each 179,400
To be exchanged for the outstanding Bonds of the 1867 and
1870 Loans.
177,135 "B" Shares of 12 each 2,125,620
To be exchanged for the Bonds of the 1869 Loan, French
Issue.
789 "A" Shares of 100 each . 78,900
To be exchanged for the outstanding Bonds of the Federal
Debt.
TRUSTEES.
Sampson Copestake, Esq. (Messrs. Copestake, Moore, Cramp-
ton & Co.).
Alderman Sir Thomas White, Ex-Sheriff of London and Mid-
dlesex (with power to add to their number) .
DIRECTORS (Pro Tern.) :
The Committee of Honduras Bondholders
(Specially re-appointed for the purpose).
BANKERS.
Messrs. Glyn, Mills, Currie & Co., 67, Lombard St., E. C.
AUDITORS.
Messrs. Deloittee, Dever, Griffith & Co., 4, Lothbury, London.
Messrs. James and F. Ford, 76 and 77 Cheapside.
56
JOINT SOLICITORS.
John Tucker, Esq., 28, S't. Swithin's Lane, London, E. C.
Augustus Beddall, Esq., Baltic Chambers, 108, Bishopsgate
St., E. C.
CHIEF ENGINEERS.
Charles Seymour, Esq., M. Inst. C. E. (New York), Chief
Engineer of the Madisonville and Bowling Green Railway, the
Henderson Nashville Railroad, the Edgefield and Kentucky Rail-
road, etc., etc., and formerly the Chief of Staff on the Atlantic
and Great Western Railroad.
SECRETARY.
C. F. Denny, Esq.
OFFICES.
In London, 4, Westminister Chambers, Victoria Street, S'. W.
In Paris, 2, Rue Drouot.
PROSPECTUS.
First issue of 20,000, 10 per cent First Mortgage.
Debenture Bonds of 100 each at Par,
Being part of 25,000 which the Company have power to issue.
THE HONDURAS INTER-OCEANIC RAILWAY COMPANY,
LIMITED.
DEBENTURE CAPITAL 2,500,000.
"It is proposed to issue this Capital in Bonds of 100 each,
bearing interest at 10 per cent per annum.
"The Bonds to be redeemed at par by An MUM! Drawings, and
by the operation of a Sinking Fund, in 25 years.
"The first Drawing to take place on the 31st. of December.
1876, and the drawn Bonds will be paid on the next succeeding
15th day of January, when the interest thereon will cease.
"The Bonds will be issued to bearer, with Coupons, payable
half-yearly on the 1st. of January and the 1st. of July in eaeh year,
at the Offices of the Compnn\.
"The tir.-t payment of interest to take place on the 1st. of
July, is:
57
The President of the Republic of Honduras to the Inhabitants
thereof.
Notice is hereby given: That the Sovereign Constitutent
Congress has decreed as follows :
The Sovereign Constitutent National Congress of the Re-
public.
Considering that the fresh negotiations entered into by the
Minister Plenipotentiary, Senor Don. Carlos Gutierrez, and the
Special Commissioner, Dr. Don. C. E. Bernhard, with the Limited
Company for the construction of the Honduras Inter-Oceanic Rail-
way, remove the great difficulties presented by the system adopted
for the completion of that undertaking; and considering that they
tend to promote one of the greatest interests of the Republic, the
Assembly, with the respective documents before it.
DECREES.
Art. 1. The Contracts concluded in London, on the 12th.
day of July of the present year, by the aforesaid Messrs. Gutierrez
and Bernhard, with the Limited Company, is approved, on the
same terms as it was approved by the Provisional Government of
the Republic, for the continuation and completion of the works
of the Inter-Oceanic Railway.
Art. 2. In order that the aforesaid Contract may have full
effect, and Honduras be bound to the Contracting Company, it is
indispensable that the members of the latter should authorize the
deed of the aforesaid Contract by the signatures of their legal
representatives, in the form and according to the regulations
prescribed by the laws of Great Britain for the execution and ful-
fillment of Contracts of this nature.
Given at Comayagua, in the Sessions Hall of the National
Constitutent Congress, on the 24th of December, 1873.
(Signed) R. MIDENCE, Deputy, President.
P. HERNANDEZ, Deputy, Secretary.
PEDRO RIVERA BUSTILLO, Dep., Sec.
Therefore, let this be promulgated and printed.
(Signed) CELEO ARIAS.
JEREMIAS CISNEROS, Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Comayagua, December 25, 1873.
EXTRACTS
From the Bluebook, Containing the Report Issued by the
Select Committee of the British Parliament,
1875.
61
The Parliamentary Select Committee said, on the 24th page
of their report :
"It will l)e seen that Honduras has thus become indebted in
respect of principal in a sum of 5,990,108 (approximately), m
return for which she has engaged to pay 695,700 annually, in
periods varying from fifteen to seventeen years. The interest
(apart from Sinking Fund) now in arrears amounts to 1,230,164.
Bonds of the nominal value of 692,879 have been paid off or
cancelled, leaving 6,527,393 now due for principal and interest.
In return -for this liability Honduras has secured an abandoned
section of a line of railway fifty-three miles in length, for which
the contractors have received 689,745"
The Parliamentary Committee utter these significant word*
on page 46 of the report:
"Your committee do not dwell on the transactions by which
such enormous sums have been abstracted from the Honduras
loans, and appropriated among those who were entrusted with
its management. Such acts have no more to do with foreign loans
than with any other transaction by which the money of one per-
son comes into the possession of another, and is converted to the
use of the depositaries. A remedy for such proceedings ought
to be found in the tribunals of the country."
Bondholders' Proposition
For the Settlement of the External Debt of Honduras,
1903.
65
Tegucigalpa,, January 28, 1903,
To the Hon. Council of Ministers of Honduras,,
Tegucigalpa.
Gentlemen: As the representative in Honduras of the Cor-
poration of Foreign Bondholders., which, in the name of the Bond-
holders, is charged with the arrangement of the Foreign Loans of
Honduras of 1867, 1869 and 1870, I have the honor to inform
you that following the instructions I have received from the
President last year, the Corporation, with the aid of the Squier
Syndicate, has been able to give a solution to the difficulties that
until this date have surrounded this matter.
I ha,ve the honor to submit herewith for your consideration
a project of law based in an agreement made in London, England,
on December 4th, 1902, between the Corporation of Foreign Bond-
holders and the Squier Syndicate, of New York. This project
of law includes the proposal for an arrangement, which I do not
doubt will be well received by the Government of Honduras, since
its terms are extremely liberal for Honduras, and it stipulates the
completion of the Inter-Oceanic Railway a most important work
for the Republic.
You will see that it also proposes to cancel the foreign loans of
Honduras at the rate of 200,000 per annum, in exchange for a
payment by Honduras to the Foreign Bondholders of the Railway
and other properties mortgaged to them, so that in twenty-six years,
the Foreign Debt of Honduras will be cancelled.
The first four annual installments of 20,000 each can be at
present easily payed by the country, and the surplus at the end
of each period of 4 years will be more than balanced by the in-
crease of the revenue of the country due to the great advance of
trade and progress in Honduras, which will be brought about by
the construction and operation of the Inter-Oceanic Railway.
The Squier Syndicate has made possible the projected arrange-
ment with the Bondholders through a payment to the 'Corporation,
as purchase value of the Inter-Oceanic Railway, at the rate of
2.10 in cash for each 100 in Bonds presented for redemption.
The amount required for the redemption of the total number of
Bonds at the rate of 2.10 is $650,000 gold, to be paid immediately
upon the completion of the arrangements.
.60
.It is a pleasure for me to inform YOU that the President of
the Squier Syndicate, Mr. Frank Squier, is a brother of E. Geb.
Squier, who dedicated so many years of his life to the advance-
ment of the interests of Honduras, being instrumental for the
devolution of the Bay Islands to this Country.
Finally, I can say that the works of the Northern Railway of
Ouatemala, having been started again formally, it is of great
importance to establish the works of the Inter-Oceanic Railway of
Honduras before completion arises in the neighboring Republic.
With the highest consideration, etc.,
(Signed) W. J. BAIN,
Representative of the Corporation of
Foreign Bondholders.
PROJECT OF LAW FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF THE
FOREIGN LOANS', WHICH THE NATIONAL CON-
GRESS OF HONDURAS SHALL ISSUE.
Article 1. Subject to the provisions of Article 10, of this,
ihe S'tate absolutely cedes and assigns to the holders of Bonds of
the Loan of the 10% (1867), of the Loan of 6 2/3% (1869), and
of the Loan of 10% (1870) which hereafter will be called Rail-
way Loans the Inter-Oceanic Railway of Honduras, from Puerto
Cortes, on the Atlantic Coast, to the Bay of Fonseca, on the
Pacific, with all its equipment and revenues, and also all the
domains and forest of the State with all their products and pro-
ductions, such as Mahogany and other woods, etc., as they are
described in the concessions of said Railway, granted in the years
of 1853 and 1865, and assigned and mortgaged for security of said
Railway Loans on the terms of their issue, and also said Conces-
sions and all thejr rights, in trusts, benefits and advantages by
them respectively granted.
Article 2. The Cession and assignment made in Ihe preced-
iHicle are made with the object that the holders of Bonds of
said L'ai n- IIIMV lr;in>!Vr or invest the same. Mini nil
proper t. concessions, riirhis. interests, benefits and advantages in
them involved or by them <le>rrihe<l to or in the Squire Syndicate,
of New York (which ha- nj.-rpd into agreements with the Govern-
ill. c..iiij.letioii l.v its appointees, or concessionaires, of
67
said Railway), in exchange of the payments or security for the
payments by it to said Bondhiolderrs, prescribed by an agree-
ment made in London., the fourth day of December, of 1902, be-
tween the Syndicate and the Corporation of Foreign Bondholders,
the latter acting jointly with the Committee of Bondholders of
the Eailway Loans of the State of Honduras, and in representation
of said Bondholders.
The State by these presents agrees to and approves the absolute
investment in the Squier Syndicate of all the rights of the holders
of the Railway Bonds at the time and in the cases in them men-
tioned and established.
Article 3. For the Amortization of the Bonds of the Railway
Loans and of the 25% Loan of 1867, the Government will pay to
the Agents- of the Bondholders in Honduras the following amounts,
as follows :
(1) The sum of 20,000 in each one of the first four
years, which will begin and contains from the first
day of July of 1903.
(2) The sum of 24,000 in each one of the next follow-
ing four years ; and in the fifth and following years
equal annual sums increased by 4,000, after each
period of four years until it amounts to 40,000 in
the twenty, first year and continuing so and until
and while the amortization at a rate of 200,000
per annum is accomplished according as is provided
for in the following Article.
Article 4. The sum above mentioned shall be applied by said
Corporation for the redemption of the said Loans in such manner
that Bonds to the amount of 200,000 of one or more of said Loans
with all their unpaid coupons be cancelled in each year and de-
livered to the Government or its representative in London or
destroyed by incineration or otherwise as the Government may
order.
Article 5. The Corporation will be charged with the duty
of obtaining the Bonds and amortize them by offers of purchase or
.by drawing?. The amortization will be effected as soon as possible
after the funds are deposited every six months according to the
plan that the Corporation shall devise and be submitted to and
approved by general meeting of Bondholders which the Corporation
68
will convene at London. The aforesaid plan shall make provision
for the repayment to the Corporation of all expenses for all facts
and external negotiations and for the execution of the arrangement.
ft must establish also the details to carry through the operation,
always subject to the condition that Bonds to the amount of 200-
000 be annually redeemed as above prescribed.
Article 6. For security of said annual payments the State
assigns and mortgages all the Customs Revenues of the Republic,
and said annual payments shall be a first and preferential obliga-
tion over any other payment. To this effect the collection of
Customs of Puerto Cortes is authorized and ordered irrevocable by
this law, and without necessity of new order from the Government
to pay every week to the agent of the Bondholders in Honduras,
who shall be appointed by the Corporation, the fifty secondth part
of the annual installment then in course, according to Article 3,.
of this law, besides (as per account rendered by the Agent from
time to time) the expenses made by him for remittances to London
and the exchange expenses. If at any time the income of the
Custom House of Puerto Cortes were not sufficient to provide the
amount required, the weekly payment will be completed from the
Custom House designated by the Government in accord with the
( 'orporation of Foreign Bondholders. The Agent will remit to the
Corporation every two weeks the funds collected.
Article 7. If in any year the Customs Revenues giv" any
surplus after providing tl'e payment in gold of the annual sums
in Article 3. and alter selling aside $1,000,000 for the expenditures
of the Government, 25% of such superabit will be paid bv the
(iovernmeni to the Corporation and distributed as an addiiional
payment amonr the Bondholders, as shall he determined in the
plan mentioned in Article ".
Article S. The afore-aid payments will continue faithfully
and punctually, in peace or in war. and shall also lie free of tax&j
of ;iny charirc by the Stale.
Article !>. The (iovernmenl of Honduras will invite the Gov-
ernment- of (ireat Hrilain and the Tinted Mates to take -\ formal
note of tin- arrsmirements cMWicd hy this law.
Article 10. The arranvj-menl herein made will Infill to he in
and may he (.iterative ami binding "i> lite State ;md the Koiid
hold' "ii a- ihev are accepted hy a^ iv\ olul ion at a general
69
meeting of the Bondholders, which the Corporation of Foreign
Bondholders will convene according to the laws and by-laws of said
CorDoration; a:ptf_which will take place in London, and when the
said '.re volution be approved then all the rights of the holders of the
Railway Loans, either by the obligation of the original mortgage or
the security given by the Bonds of said Loans, or by Article 1 of
this law, and by the same ceded and assigned, or that is expressed
to be so, will be absolutely invested in said Squier Syndicate, as
its own property and free of any pretension or claim on the part
-of the Bondholders.
AGREEMENT.
Agreement made this 4th day of December of 1902, between
the Squier Syndicate, of New York (hereinafter called "The Syndi-
cate"), of the one part, and the Corporation of Foreign Bond-
holders of London, acting in this in accord with the Committee
-of the holders of Bonds of the External Loans of Honduras, say
of the State of Honduras, and as representative of the holders of
said Loans (hereinater called the "The Corporation" and the
"Committee" respectively), of the other part.
Whereas, the external loans of the State of Honduras are the
following: Loan of 5% of 1867, of 10% of 1867, of 6 2/3% of
1869, and of 10% of 1870 the three last ones named hereinafter
"Railway Loans."
Whereas, the holders of Bonds of said external loans and the
"Corporation and Committee as their representatives, respectively,
are desirous to arrive at an arrangement in respect to the Claims
with the Government of said State of Honduras, and they have been
^and now are negotiating with said Government with the end of
obtaining this object.
Whereas, the Bonds of the Railway Loans are especially
guaranteed by mortgage or charge on said Railway and domains
and forests of the State and other properties.
Whereas, the subject of this agreement has been under the
study of the Committee, which gave its approval .by resolution
passed on the 20th day of November of 1902.
Therefore, by the consideration hereafter consigned it has
been agreed between the Syndicate on one part and the Corporation
on the other part, to the following:
70
1. The Corporation will use its best efforts to carry through
an arrangement about the foreign loans and for an agreement with
the Government on this subject, and for the approval by Congress
of the State of Honduras, of a law for the settlement of the ex-
ternal debt of the State, on the terms consigned in the project of law
contained in the draft attached, with such modifications (if any),
as the Syndicate and the Corporation may mutually approve; and
the Syndicate (as far as in its discretion may reasonably do and
when the Corporation may request from it), will co-operate with
the Corporation in its efforts to obtain the aforesaid object.
'I. The Syndicate will use its best efforts for obtaining from
the Government of Honduras, and in case the Government deemed
proof of the ability or capacity of the Syndicate, or its Agents, or
cessionaires necessary to complete said Railroad within a reason-
able time, and will use too its best efforts to make or carry through
a definitive and binding agreement with the Government (under
the condition of the approval of the law referred to in the Clause
1, and the approval of the Resolution of the Bondholders in a
General Meeting, and mentioned and prescribed in the next Clause
3, which must be held simultaneously and immediately before or
soon after the preceding clause), for the completion of said Rail-
way within a reasonable time and on account of the Syndicate, its
Agents or cessionaires; and the Corporation (as far as it is
reasonably able in its discretion, if the Syndicate demands it), will
co-operate with the Syndicate in its efforts to make or carry
through the proposed arrangement.
\Vhen the law mentioned in Clause No. 1 be approved, and
the arrangements mentioned in Clause No. 2, for the completion of
said Railway lie terminated and delivered to the Syndicate, and
tin- Syndicate has put in the hands of the Corporation tin- security
or rnaninty mentioned in the next following Clause No. 4, then the
Corporation shall convene, as soon as possihle. a General Meeting
ndholders of the Foreign Loans, in conformity with its rules
and reiMdations. which will he held in London, with the object of
approMni: a n>o hit ion accepting tin- arrangement provided by said
.ind hy li Mieiit : and shall also invite the Bondholders
to depo-h their I'.onds with the Corporation for the purpose of
ri^ out -aid arrangement : and the Corporation and the Com-
mittee -hall iveommciid and employ their best efforts to obtain its
appro
71
4. When the law mentioned in Clause 1 be approved, and the
arrangement mentioned in Clause 2 for the completion of said
Railway be terminated, and before the meeting mentioned in Clause
3 takes place, it is agreed that the Syndicate will deliver to the
Corporation a security or guaranty by a Bank or firm established
in London to the satisfaction of the Corporation (subject to the
approval of the resolution by a General Meeting, as before stated)
to make the following payments to the Corporation on account of
the Bondholders of the Railway Loans in this form :
(1) The sum of 2.10 for every 100 Bonds of said
Railway Loans to be deposited with the Corpora-
tion in acceptance of said settlement, within three
calendar months after the issue by the Corpora-
tion of public notice inviting such deposit.
(2) The sum of 2. for every 100 Bonds of said Rail-
way Loans deposited, as has been already said, after
the expiration of three calendar months, and before
the expiration of three calendar months, of the
first publication of said notice.
(3) The sum of 1.10 for every 100 Bonds of said
Railway Loans to be deposited as hereinbefore
stated, at the expiration of six calendar months and
before the expiration of one year since the publica-
tion of said notice.
5. With the resolution of the Bondholders in General Meet-
ing aforementioned and established in Clause 3, being approved,
all the rights of the Bondholders of the Railway Loans and also
the first mortgage or guarantee given for the said Railway Bonds
or by said law to and upon said properties of the Railway and any
other properties, are to be transferred absolutely to the Syndicate
as its own property, released from all claims by or from the Bond-
holders, and the Syndicate will be authorized to take possession of
said Railway and properties accordingly, and the Corporation will
withdraw its claim in behalf of the Bondholders, and at any time
after at the request of the Syndicate, after the approval of said
resolution, will deliver to the Syndicate proof sufficient and
adequate .duly authorized) of the approval of said resolution, as
has been stated and mentioned at and established in Clause 10, of
the Project of Law consigned in the minute attached with the-
72
certificates and copies duly drawn of said resolution, and the rules
and regulations of the Corporation of Foreign Bondholders, show-
ing that said resolution has been duly approved and in conformity
with them.
6. If this agreement does not become effective on or before
the 30th day of June of 1903 or at least on that date one of
both parties may, by notice in writing to the other, and sent by
mail to their respective offices in London and New York, terminate
this agreement and by that fact would be ended, and the rights of
the Bondholders will remain unaffected and in full vigor as if this
agreement was never celebrated. Taking into consideration always
that if this agreement is not made effective on or before the 30th
day of June of 1903, due directly or indirectly to War, Revolution,
or any circumstance which may be considered as "force m&jor"
then the period during which the same has not been terminated
under the option and benefit of what it contains it will be con-
sidered extended for such time as shall correspond with the time
of the continuation of the circumstances which had interfered in
this agreement not being effected; such period and the question of
efficiency in case of dispute between the Corporation and the Syndi-
cate will be decided by Arbitration in England, under the provi-
sions of the Arbitration Act of 1889.
(Signed) AVEBURY,
President of the Corporation and the Committee.
(Signed) ALBERT E. TURNKK.
Agent for the Squier Syndicate.
Authenticated by .hunt's P. Cooper, Secretary of the Corpora-
tion of Foreign Bondholders.
Approved by tin- S<|iiier Syndicate. New York, on the K>th
of December. 1!K)2.
.Tied) D. BROOKS CAKNSKY. Secretary.
1'1,'ANK SoriKlf. President.
\\IT\I
Signed) MKi:vi\ s. NKAU. JR.,
Neu York Count \. N Y.
Official Record,
1903.
75
Official Record, 1903.
PROJECT "SQUIEK SYNDICATE."
ARCHIVES OF FOMENTO.
ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT MANUEL BONILLA.
1903.
No. 1. "A" April 25th W. J. Bain, Agent of the Bondholders
to the President Manuel Bonilla.
"I have the honor to enclose to Your Excellency the Project
of the Law, traced by the Bondholders, for the extinction of the
Exterior Debt of the Republic, including- the Federal Debt guaran-
teed by the products of the Customs of Amapala."
"Furthermore, said arrangement is combined with an agree-
ment between 'The Squier Syndicate' and the Corporation of
Foreign Bondholders, by the terms of which they pay 2.10. in
cash for each 100 of Bonds and promise to complete the Rail-
way."
"This Troject for a Law 7 has been approved by the Govern-
ment of H. B. M., and as the basis is so favorable for the Govern-
ment of Honduras, no doubt that it will be well supported by
Your Excellency."
I am, Your Excellency's etc., etc.
No. 1 "B." Project for a Law for the arrangement of the Ex-
terior Loans that the Congress of the State of Honduras shall
emit. Articles 1 to 10.
No. 2. Project of the arrangement of the Foreign of Hondu-
Honduras and construction of the Inter-Oceanic Railway, as. sub-
mitted by Mr. W. J. Bain, the 1st of May, 1903.
Explanation of the generous conditions, with a Table demon-
strating the cancellation of the Debt in 27 years.
No. 3. Agreement made the 4th of December of 1902, be-
re
tween the "Squier Syndicate'' of New York and the Corporation of
Foreign Bondholders of London.
Preamble and 6 Articles.
(Signed) AVEBTJRY,
President of the Corporation and
Chairman of the Committee.
BY SQUIER SYNDICATE.
Albert Turner, Agent.
" FRANK SQUIER, President.
" D. BROOKS GARXSEY, Secretary.
Witnesses to the signatures of the Rt: Hon: John Baron
Avobury and Albert Turner.
(Signed) JAMES P. COOPER,
Secy : of the Corp : of Foreign Bondholders.
Witnesses to the signatures of Frank Squier and D. Brooks
Garnsey, 16th December, 1902.
(Signed) MERVIX S. NEAR, JR.,
Xew York County. \. Y.
No. I. Agreement of the 4th of December, 1902, between the
"Squier Syndicate" of Xew York, and the Corporation of the
Holders of Bonds, in English. Also the Project of Law.
No. 5. Agreement proposed between the Government of Hon-
luras. in ('. A., and the "Squier Syndicate" they acting under the
provisions agreement dated in London, December 4th, 190, with
< orporation of Bondholders, simultaneously, as supplementary
inenN. Arts. 1/22.
No. ('. Communication of Solomon Onlnncx, (Jeneral Min-
i-tT !' \\'. .1. Bain, over his powers. May .">, 1 ( .M):;.
No. *. ( 'oninninicat ion of Solomon Ordonex, Minister (len-
<-ral to \V. .1. Bain. May I'.Mli.
Mr. Bain to the Min. (i.-neral. May 1 1. I'M):;.
No. 9, Mr. Bam to ilie Min. (Irm-ral. Mav 1!'. l'.>>:;.
\o. M>. 'I'll.' (ii-in-nil Minister t the National ( 'oM'_ r iv.
uith all the document-. May g&, I'.M):;.
I 1. \\ . .1. Itaiii to IVeHdn.t lloiiilla, Mav 86, I'.Hi:;.
l.'.-ohitioti of National Cmi^ress that returns the
'
i i
Xo. 13. W. J. Bain to Sotero Barahona (personal), June \2 r
1903.
Xo. 14. W. J. Bain to Mr. President, June 2, 1903, with
copy of a letter to Mr. Barahona.
Xo. 15. W. J. Bain and E. A. Turner to Mr. President, June
(>, 1903, refers to an omission in the translation of the Project of
Law, Art. 2.
Xo. 16. Powers from W. J. Bain, as representative of the
Bonholders., on the 5th February, 1903.
United States' Protest,
1903.
81
UNITED STATES PEOTEST.
TELEGRAM.
Guatemala, June 3, 1903.
Minister of Foreign Kelations, Tegucigalpa:
My Government disproves the terms of the proposal of the
Squier Syndicate.
I am opposed that an American corporation shall be the
medium of celebrating an arrangement between Honduras and the
Foreign Bondholders, with respect to a debt relative to which i&
alleged grave frauds, illegalities and injustice.
I beg the honor of a reply by telegraph to this message.
(Signed) LESLIE COMBES,
Minister of the United States.
Official Report
to
Congress,
1904.
85
OFFICIAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Extract of memorial presented to the National Congress by
the Secretary of State in the Department of Improvements and
Public Works for the years 1902 and 1903.
Under the date of April 25th, Mr. W. J. Bain, as agent of the
Bondholders of the Foreign Debt of Honduras, presented to the
Government a "Project of Law" devised by the bondholders, pro-
viding for the extinction of the debt and for the holders of the
bonded debt to construct the railroad.
Should the arrangement be accepted, they would guarantee
themselves out of the proceeds of the customs of Amapala,
Regarding this project, the communication which crossed
between the Minister of Honduras and Mr. Bain and the rest of
the antecedents in the case, an account is given to Congress May
23rd and 28th of same year, who saw fit to turn it over to the
Executive, to whom it pertains at present, to treat regarding the
proposition, with the parties interested, and submit the agreement
at convenience to your knowledge, conformable to the requirements
-of the Political Constitution of Honduras.
In view of this resolution the" Government, in order to proceed
with the greatest thoroughness, nominated on June 9th, two of
the ablest Lawyers of the Country, Don. P. J. Bustillo and Don.
Angel Ugarte, in order that, in representation of the Government,
conferring conjointly with the representative of the Bondholders of
the Foreign Debt of Honduras and with those of any other Com-
pany or individuals, who hold any interest in the proposition, to
arrange the said Debt and the construction of the Inter-Oceanic
Railway across the territory of the Republic and also leasing the
section of same already constructed; giving equally ample powers
to Messrs. Bustillo and Ugarte, by which if they arrive at a
satisfactory conclusion they may from the Contracts which they
judge necessary, respecting the points previously explained, giving
account of those to the Government, by which they arrive at the
resolution which they believe convenient, and authorizing said
representatives that they can propose a Secretary and two clerks,
86
which can be nominated for the Office, and which they can use,
in the fulfilling of their Commission, and of all the documents
which they can obtain in the National Archives and Public Offices,
concerning the matter with which they are charged.
The Conferences and other acts it will be the duty of Messrs.
Bustillo and Ugarte to put in a special record.
On June 15th, the representative of the Government held the
first conference with Mr. W. J. Bain; the latter being the repre-
sentative of the Bondholders of the Foreign Debt of Honduras,
and after three more days, 17, 20, 22 of the same month, in
which they met to discuss the Powers of Attorney of Mr. Bain.
The representatives of Honduras observed that the legal conditions
necessary to constitute him absolutely the representative of the
Bondholders :
(1) Because, being the corporation of Bondholders of Lon-
don, an anonymous society, it is indispensable that Mr. Bain
fills the requirements exacted by our laws, in order that he may
treat in the name of the persons who have conferred upon him the
power to compromise them.
(2) Because, speaking in the name of the Committee of
Foreign Bondholders, it is indispensable to produce the act in
which the Bondholders, in meeting convened for that purpose, did
constitute the Commission, of which he speaks, and the powers
which they conferred on him.
Mr. Bain answering the observations that were made, stated
that his powers gave him the authorization of the Corporation of
Bondholders, acting conjointly with the Committee of Bondholders
of the Foreign Bonds of Honduras, to represent the Corporation,
the said Committee, and the holders of Honduras Bonds; and to
act in favor of each of them respectively, and in their name nego-
tiate with the Government of Honduras an arrangement over the
in-ill printed and added to the written Power of Attorney,
jind upon the "Project of a Law," which in this agreement refer-
ence is made; and, in Lreneral, to negotiate with the Government
of Honduras an arrangement over the Foreign Debt of the Re-
public, ohli^atin'j liic corporation referred to, to ratify everything
thai w;i- le.L r al in respect to it: llial -aid Power has ant hori/cd him
iifonniiy with the laws and n-L-ulat ions of the corporations,
87
as indicated in the final paragraph,, and indispensably requisite*
because it was signed by the President of the Corporation, which
gives it its Official character, and which already owes its existence
to an act of Parliament, and the signature of the President is
unquestionable, because the document is authentic.
The Power must be examined for the terms in which it was
conferred, not singly, but in relation to the printed Agreement,
which is attached, made in London, December 4th, 1902, and in-
flation with the "Project of Law/' to which this agreement refers,
which is also attached; which in Article 5, of this "Project of
Law" declare, that the amortization of the Bonds will be effected
conformably to a plan which the corporation outlined, and which
will be approved by a general meeting of Bondholders, convoked
by Corporation for verification in London, that Article 10 of said
"Project 77 establishes that those arrangements which are made will
not be effective, and will not obligate the State and the Bondholders
until they may be accepted by Eesolution of a General Meeting of
said Bondholders, which the Corporation will convoke conformable
to the laws and regulations, which binds it, and will take place in
London; which established -that Officially that the Corporation of
Bondholders represents by means of its President, the holders of
Bonds, and makes clear that the same President of the Corpora-
tion is the President of the Committee of Honduras, the representa-
tion conferred by the Power cited, is full, notwithstanding what it
does in the exercise of this power upon the "Agreement" and "Pro-
ject" presented, holds that it be approved by the Bondholders in
General Meeting; that the Corporation of Bondholders and the
Committee of Honduras has not been organized conformably to the
laws of Honduras regards anonymous societies, then it owes its
existence to English Laws, and these Laws at the same time that
they protect the rights of the claimants will be the safeguard of
the rights of Honduras, that an Official Corporation does not dare
to do wrong ; and that in consequence, hopes that holding the rep-
resentation good, true and perfect, it is in order to pass to the
study of the "agreement" and the "project"*presented to the Gov-
ernment for the ensuing results.
The representatives of Honduras replied : that for the terms-
of the Act or Decree of the English Parliament, copy of which
Mr. Bain presented, the Corporation of Bondholders is an anony-
88
mous society, and that in conformity with the principles of Inter-
national Law and tlu> Legislation in force in Honduras, its repre-
sentatives cannot exercise any such act without being competently
authorized according to our prescribed laws; that it only required
that Mr. Bain complies with the laws of Honduras, so that he
can bind his constituents; that Mr. Bain has not produced the act
in which it is made clear that the Corporation of Holders of Foreign
Bonds and the Committee of Bondholders of Foreign Bonds of
Honduras have constituted a Committee; that which is not demon-
strated by the act, by which the President and Vice-President of
the Corporation of Holders of Foreign Bonds may be the same as
the Committee of the Holders of Bonds of the Foreign Debt of
Honduras, apparently the one and the other are distinct entries.
For these reasons, Messrs. Bustillo and Ugarte declares they
cannot treat with Mr. Bain regarding any business referring to
the Foreign Debt of Honduras.
Mr. Bain protested and the Representatives of the Government
did the same.
Mr. Ugarte went to the United States and Europe, commis-
sioned by the Government, for which reason Mr. Bustillo continued
alone studying the matters concerning our Foreign Debt.
Tegucigalpa, January 7, 1904.
(Signed) ALBERTO MEMBREXO.
The Garden's Agreement,
1909.
91
PROPOSAL OF BRITISH MINISTER GARDEN,
Tegucigalpa, March 10, 1909.
General Miguel Oqueli Bustillo,
Minister of Finance and Public Credit, City.
My Dear Friend: As I promised to His Excellency, the
President of the Republic, and to you last night, I have the 1
pleasure to herein inclose the data which I have used to form
the project for the settlement of the debt, which I have had
the honor to submit to the consideration of the Government of
Honduras.
The essential part of the project, as you know, consists in
the payment by Honduras of 1,600,000 in forty yearly install-
ments of 40,000 each.
To carry into effect these payments the Government assigns
to the Council of Foreign Bondholders the net proceeds (usu-
fructo) of the railway and wharf, besides an additional impost
of 15 per cent over the import duties, which will be payable
by means of special certificates, which shall be delivered to the
Council for sale in the several ports of the Republic.
Complying with these conditions, the Government has no
other responsibility if for any eventuality the collections from
the aforesaid revenues in one year do not produce enough to com-
plete the payment of said annuity of 40,000. In such case the
deficit shall be covered with jthe surplus of the following year or
years.
Herewith I inclose some tables which show the reasons that
I have to believe that the said revenues not only will give the
amount needed to cover the forty installments of 40,000, but will
leave a big surplus.
The table No. 10 shows the increase obtained in three of the
most important railways in Mexico, which proves what can be ex-
pected in Honduras-.
The table No. 11 shows the relation between the operating 7
expenses to the gross earnings of thirteen railways in several
countries of Latin America, which give an average of 60%.
The table No. 13 shows the products which may be expected'
of the existing railways, starting from the basis of actual earn-
nigs, to, say, 40,000 per annum.
92
In the lirst of these tables the cost of operation is estimated
in <;5%, and in the second 70%. In both is subtracted the sei'-
vice of interest and sinking fund of an issue of 80,000 of rail-
way reronstruction bonds.
It has been estimated an annual increase of the gross earn-
f the railway of 10', in each one of the next nine years.
and 5% on the succeeding years. It may be noticed that this in-
crease per centum is calculated upon the products of the first
year instead of every preceding year, which is more favorable.
Table No. 1!) show* the products of the wharf (its increase
being calculated on the same basis), taken as a whole with those
of the railroad; calling vour attention to the fact that the last
ones are estimated upon the basis of a cost of operating of r..v ;-
of the gross earnings.
To figure out the difference in case the expenses of operation
would be 70% instead of 65%, one only has to reduce the figures
of the seventh portion.
Table No. !) shows the increase of the import duties in the
la-t ten years, which gives an average of 5.51%.
In in those years of war and revolutions there has been such
an increase, surely it is not Improbable to expect a continuance
in the future, even not taking into consideration the necessary
n Milt of the rehabilitation of Xational credit abroad.
This table shows, beside-, what, can be expected from the 1.")%
additional which it is proposed to establish on said customs
The first column of table *() shows the total expected prod-
of ra'lroad and wharf: the second one the !.">% additional
<":f the import duties; and the third one the surplus in fa\or of
the (iovermnent, sul t ract ing the amount of the annuities of
"i<>. \\hicb will be applied to the amort i/at ion of the debt.
I avail of tin- ppu t unit v to repeat to vou once more vour
Wend, v\
3 -ned) UONKL GARDEN,
93
BASIS WHICH THE GOVERNMENT OF HONDURAS AC-
CEPTED FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF ITS FOREIGN
DEBT IN MARCH, 1909.
Tegucigalpa, March 11, 1909.
Article 1. It is taken as a basis of settlement the sum of
452,000, as representative value of the external debt originated
from the four loans of 1867, 1869 and 1870, acknowledging on
that amount of the interest of 8.86% during the time of its amor-
tization, which is here fixed in forty years and installments of
40,000.
Article 2. The said annuities shall be applied by drawings
or by purchases to highest bidder to the amortization of the bonds,
in the following proportion:
1st Drawing of 1,000,000 at 20% 200,000
2nd Drawing of 1,000,000 at 25% 250,000
3rd Drawing of 1,000,000 at 30% 300,000
4th Drawing of 1,000,000 at 35% 350,000'
5th Drawing of 1,398,570 at 40% ......... 559,428
5,398,570 1,659,428
Article 3. The holders of bonds shall present their titles
to the Council of Bondholders in London within twos years, to-
be stamped in accordance with the present stipulations in order
to enter to the amortization.
Article 4. For the payment of the forty annuities of 40,000
referred to:
(a) The Government cedes and assigns to the bondholders
the usufruct (net earnings) of the Interoceanic Railway and
Wharf of Puerto Cortes for forty years, or until the debt is extin-
guished, if this can be effected before, the bondholders taking;
charge of its administration and opreation.
(b) The Government will issue bonds of first mortgage orr
the railway for the amount of 100,000 to provide funds which
will be applied to the necessary improvements, the Council of
Bondholders being obligated to contract their sales to best possible
rate. The service of interest and sinking fund of these bonds shall
be preferential charge on the net products of the railway.
94
<(c) The Government will assign also for the payment of
the .annuities referred to the proceeds of an additional impost of
15% on the import duties which shall be established to this effect.
This import shall be collected specially and exclusively by
means of customs certificates, which shall be issued at the time
of signing the contract of the settlement of the debt, depositing
them in the hands of the? trustees, and delivering them to the
agents of the bondholders for their sale to the merchants accord-
Ing as they are needed.
Article 5. The products of the revenues referred to in the
preceding clause shall be applied by the Council of Bondholders,
in the first place, to the payment of the said forty annuities of
4.0,000, depositing the surplus, if any in any year, in a bank to
the order of the Government, but under the precise condition that
It must be applied exclusively for the payment of the contracts
that the Government makes for construction of railways.
Article 6. If for any eventuality the products of the reve-
nues of which mention is made in Article 4 would not suffice in
one year to complete the payment of the annuity of 40,000, the
deficit will be completed with the surplus of the next following
year, or years, without bearing interest.
(Signed) LIONEL GARDEN".
LETTER OF THE HONDURAS MINISTER OF FINANCE
TO MINISTER GARDEN.
Tegucigalpa, March 11, 1909.
Excellency Lionel Garden, Minister of H. B. M., City.
Dear Sir and Friend: Bein<: agreed upon the basis of a set-
tlement of the external deht, and though the President lias exact
idea of the important of tin- re-establishment of the credit of the
Republic by the payment of her debt. I am compelled to man-
ifest to you thai HUM not he overlooked the heavy burden which
will he imposed upon the nation with the annual payment of
I'M). (Hid win,-}, in the arlual state of poverty would he \erv onerous
io the Honduras worker.
95
Taking into consideration this circumstance, the - President
believing that he cannot justify before the opinion of his fellow-
citizens the delivery of the railway and wharf, besides the over-
charge of 15% on the customs duties,, without receiving in com-
pensation other direct and immediate benefit besides the rehabilita-
tion of the national credit.
What other benefits could be offered to the Honduran people
in order that they may receive with delight the agreement of the
settlement of the debt? No other is so agreeable to the country
than the immediate reconstruction of the first section of the Inter-
oceanic Kailway, and the construction of the second section, be-
sides the construction of branches to exploit the fertile lands on the
hamelieon and Ullua Bivers, as the cultivation of bananas con-
stitutes the main industry of the people on the north coast, and this
would enable them to carry easily the burden imposed on them.
To your Excellency it is a matter of easy understanding the
high reason of public convenience of these remarks, and you may
calculate their transcendency. Therefore, if the Government agrees
that the country make sacrifices for the rehabilitation of her credit,
also has a right to expect, and even to demand, that the creditors
contribute to help Honduras to redeem her debt, promoting the
development of her resources and population.
His Excellency the President believes that besides the proposed
basis of settlement must be stipulated the obligation of the creditors
to improve and extend the existing railroad, and build branches,
wi'th the first mortgage, as with its delivery, the rights of the bond-
holders are guaranteed (secured, protected).
The Government would feel sorry that the creditors do not
understand the importance of these remarks, because a failure of
this arrangement before public opinion, and consequently before
the National Congress, would redound in detriment of the Govern-
ment and the creditors themselves, and that would retard indefi-
nitely any understanding.
By all above stated, and in order to assure to the negotiations
a final success, I consider necessary to let the bondholders under-
stand that the Government will demand, besides the obligation of
reconstructing the road and improving its equipment, to continue
the line to the south and build branches, investing 200,000 which
may be obtained with the first mortgage of the railway.
96
Furthermore: the Government understands that at the time
of closing the settlement of the debt, the Government and the
bondholders in common accord will give the administration of
the railway and wharf to a person or company who -shall accept
the obligations and rights which shall be stipulated in the contract
to be celebrated to that effect; and that the Government and the
bondholders will appoint an interventor, each., to verify the accounts
of administration,, and supervise the collection and inversion of the
ea ruings of railroad and w T harf.
Finally, the Government believes that at the time of cele-
brating the contracts will be stipulated all those conditions which
will fix the mutual guarantees.
With my best distinguished consideration, it is a pleasure to-
remain your friend,
(Signed) MIGUEL 0. BUSTILLO.
BKITISH MINISTER TO PRESIDENT DAVILA.
N". 142 Cablegram.
Guatemala, 25th of June, 1909.
Received in Tegucigalpa 25th June, 10:30 p. m.
To His Excellency the President of Honduras, Tegucigalpa:
By instructions received from my Government I have the
honour to advise your Excellency of the acceptation on the part
of the Council of Foreign Bondholders of London of the basis of
the arrangement of the foreign debt of Honduras proposed by
your Excellency the llth of March of the current year.
At the same time I have the pleasure of expressing the satis-
faction with which the -Government of H. B. M. has seen the good
disposition and eonciliatorv spirit displayed by the Government
of \oiir Kxeelleney in the negotiations, due to which it has been
made possible to arrive at a solution so satisfactory and honorahle
for Until par;
(Si-ned) lilMTISH MIMSTKi;.
0, K. 11 I.
The United States' Interference,
1909.
99
MEMORANDUM OF MINISTER BROWN.
Under instructions from my Government,, which I have just
received by telegraph, I have the honor and the pleasure to in-
form the Government of Honduras that the firm of J. P. Morgan
& Co. has informed my, Government that they are prepared to
agree in the arrangement of the foreign debt of Honduras., the
delivery of the railway and wharf of Puerto Cortes, and the ad-
vancement of a substantial amount for internal improvements
which may be necessary, acquiring new bonds which must be duly
secured.
Messrs. Morgan & Co. have notified my Government that
the Council of Foreign Bondholders had accepted the proposal of
Morgan & Co., who now have control of the British and American
securities, including the railway and wharf, and that the Council
of Foreign Bondholders, acting in behalf of the holders of bonds,
have informed the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
of the foregoing, and that the Secretary of State for Foreign Af-
fairs having cordially approved the new project, has, by request
of the Council of Bondholders, given notice to Minister Garden
of the change in the situation.
I have instructions to manifest that if the Government o (!
Honduras would send a special agent to the United States with
full powers to negotiate with Morgan & Co., the Government of
the United States would extend to him all facilities.
I beg to add that the Government of the United States feel
itself happy to see, in the said proposals, the prospect of a good
result and for a settlement upon a favorable basis for the amorti-
zation of the National debt, which would be for the prosperity,,
tranquility and National strength of Honduras.
(Signed) PHILIP BROWN.
Tegucigalpa, July 17, 1909.
100
BRITISH MINISTER GARDEN TO MINISTER OF
FOREIGN RELATIONS, HONDURAS.
British Legation,
Guatemala, July 31, 1909.
Mr. Minister:
Under instructions from H. B. M. Government, I must mani-
fest to Your Excellency, for the information of the Government
-of Honduras, that the Council of Foreign Bondholders feel sorry
that circumstances foreign to their will had obliged them to aban-
don the agreements for the settlement of the debt to which they
had previously consented.
The Government of Your Excellency is therefore relieved of
the compromises made with the British bondholders and is free
to enter into new arrangements.
I have sent to-day instructions by telegraph to H. B. M.
Consul ad interim in Tegucigalpa to notify Your Excellency in
the sense above referred to.
I avail of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the
protests of my most distinguished consideration and esteem.
(Signed) LIONEL GARDEN'.
His Excellency Dr. Don Jose Maria Ochoa,
} Finister of Foreign Relations, Tegucigalpa.
Morgan's Proposition,
1909.
103
CIRCULAR OF THE COUNCIL OF FOREIGN BOND-
HOLDERS.
HONDURAS EXTERNAL DEBT.
Holders of Bonds of the Honduras 5% Loan (1867), the
Railway Loan of 1867, the 6 2/3% Railway Loan of 1869,
and the 10% Railway Loan of 1870, are invited to forthwith de-
posit their Bonds with the Council of Foreign Bondholders against
the issue of negotiable deposited Securities to Messrs. J. S. Morgan
and Company, against a cash payment of 15. for each 100 of
existing Bonds with unpaid coupons attached, provided a settle-
ment of the Debts of Honduras under the auspices of the Govern-
ment of the United States is effected by the 4th of August, 1910.
Lists with the conditions of Deposits can be obtained on ap-
plication.
(Signed) JAMES P. COOPER, Secretary.
17, Moor^ate Street,
London, E. C.
5th of August, 1909.
CONDITIONS OF DEPOSIT.
(1) The Council is constituted the holder for the time being
of the deposited Securities and is invested with all the powers of
the actual owners thereof, and is authorized to deliver the deposited
Securities to Messrs.* J. S. Morgan and Company, against payment
in cash of the sum of Fifteen Pounds (15) in respect of each One
Hundred Pounds (100) Bond and unpaid coupons thereon, if and
when an arrangement satisfactory to Messrs. J. P. Morgan and
'Company is concluded between the United States of America and
the Republic of Honduras for the settlement of the Debt, of which
the deposited Securities form part, provided that such payment be
made on or before the 4th day of August, 1910.
(2) Should payment not be made by the date named, the
'Council, in accord with the Committee of Holders of Honduras
Bonds, is authorized to extend the above period or to negotiate
.any other arrangement and to act generally as they may deem
104
expedient in the interests of the Certificate Holders; but any such
extension of time or arrangement shall only be binding on all
Depositors, if, and when ratified by resolution of a General Meeting
of the Certificate Holders convened by the Council in manner
provided by its Eules and Regulations, the Holders of Certificates
issued in respect of Honduras External Bonds of all classes being
convened and voting together.
(3) No Holders of Certificates issued in respect of deposited
Securities shall be entitled to claim delivery of such Securities
except on a general re-delivery to be made when deemed expedient
by the Council and Bondholders' Committee.
THIRTY-SIXTH ANNTAL REPORT OP THE COUNCIL OF
THE CORPORATION OF FOREIGN BONDHOLDERS.
FOR THE YEAR 1909.
EXTRACTS.
General Remarks (page 13).
In the case of Honduras, a quite unexpected development has
taken place, proposals having been put forward by Messrs. J. S'.
an and Company to purchase the External Bonds, subject to
an arrangement being arrived at between the United State? and
Honduras for the issue of a new loan, and the collection of the
revenues under the supervision of the United States Government.
arafl ( page 15).
Karlv in IDO'.i ;l s< heme for the settlement of the External
Debt wa- submitted hy tin- Council lo the ({overnment of Honduras
through the irood ollir.- ,,f M r . I/mud Cardcn. II. M/fi Minister
in Central Amerirji. This seheme \vas approved by the President
in March, hut before tb- necessary -leps could he taken to submit
the I'ondholdeix tin- Council were informed that
-!! ai-i-aii-riiinii \vas not acceptable to the I'nilcd Stales
iinn-iil. as it did not pn>\ ide I'oi- the settlement. of the
;m Claims againsl Il'ihdnra-. .\t the same time a ne\\ pro-
\\-.\-i put t'-.i-ward by Messrs. ,1. I*. Mnrirnn and Co. of New
York, for the purchase of the K\i.-nml Debt, subject to .erlain
105
conditions. Negotiations thereupon took place between the Bond-
holders 7 Committee and Messrs. J. S. Morgan and Company of
London, and after careful consideration the Committee resolved tx>
recommend the Bondholders to deposit their securities with the
Council in assent to the following offer : That, subject to a satis-
factory arrangement being arrived at between the Governments of
the United States and Honduras within a, period of twelve months,,
and provided a majority of the securities is deposited in assent
to the scheme, Messrs. J. S. Morgan and Company undertake to
purchase the Bonds at the rate of 15 in cash for each 100 of
Bonds of the four outstanding Loans with arrears of interest.
On the 5th of August the Council issued notices inviting the
holders to deposit their Bonds against the issue of Certificates,
and at the close of the year nearly 2,000,000 of Bonds had been
so exchanged. On the 22nd December an official quotation on the
Stock Exchange of the Certificates representing negotiable Bonds
of the English Eailway Loans of 1867 and 1870 was obtained, and
the Council are of opinions that holders who have not yet deposited
their securities would be well advised, in their own interests, to
do so without delay. It is true that the terms of settlement are
disappointing, but the Council and Committee satisfied themselves
that it was impossible to obtain more, and a small sum in cash
is undoubtedly equal to a very much larger amount in Honduraean
promises. As the projected arrangement has the active support of
the United States Government, it ought to stand every chance of a
successful conclusion, and according to the most recent information 1
received, the negotiations which have for some time past been
proceeding at Washington, between the Finance Minister of Hon-
duras and the State Department, have made satisfactory progress.
Moreover, as the United States Government has intervened to
frustrate the consummation of the agreement of March, 1909 7
mentioned above, it is morally bound to secure the success of the
scheme which, in accordance with its own wishes, has been put
forward in its place. The arrangement will, it is presumed, have
to receive the approval of the United States Senate and the Hon-
duras Congress.
Morgan Asks Extension of Time for His Option on the
Honduras Bonds.
1910.
109
"HONDUBAS EXTEBNAL DEBT/'
Belay in settlement explained THE QUESTION ON COMPENSATION".
London "Financial Times/-' July 27, 1910.
A general meeting of the holders of Deposit Certificates repre-
senting Honduras Government Bonds, convened by the Council of
Foreign Bondholders., was held yesterday at their Office, 17 Moor-
.gate St., E. C. "for the purpose of considering the situation and
a proposal of Messrs. J. P. Morgan and Company to extend the
present arrangement for a further period of six months/'
The Hon. Sir Charles W. Fremantle, K. C. B., Vice-President
of the Council presided.
The Secretary, Mr. James P. Cooper, having read the notice
convening the meeting.
The Chairman said : Gentlemen : I am sorry to say that
Lord Avebury is prevented by illness from being present to-day.
I am sure we all regret his absence. He had expected until the
last moment to be able to come up, but I suppose the weather had
been against him and his doctor will not allow him to come. I
have received the following letter from him, which he desires me
to read to you.
Kingsgate Castle, Isle of Thanet, July 23, 1910.
"For the first time since I have had the honor of being Presi-
dent of the Council I fear that I shall be prevented by illness from
attending a meeting of the bondholders, though I will come up at
the last moment if I can. In these circumstances I have prepared
some remarks which I shall be glad if you will have read to the
meeting."
"The Bondholders' Committee is to meet on Tuesday, previous
to the general meeting, and circumstances may, of course, alter, but
I have every confidence in their judgment, and have little doubt
that were I able to be present I should concur with them. They
have given great care and attention to the subject, are themselves
largely interested, and I venture to hope that the meeting will
support them."
I will now ask the Secretary to read Lord Avebury's speech
to you.
110
LORD AVEBURY, ON THE SITUATION.
The Secretary then read Lord Avebury's speech as follows :
"The present meeting is a somewhat unexpected event,, and
the circumstances under which the necessity for it has arisen are
undoubtedly disappointing. I dp not propose to occupy your time
with the past history of the Honduras Debt, or of the efforts which
have been made by your Committee to oring about a settlement.
It is sufficient to go back to the early part of 1909, when your
Committee, with the valuable co-operation of the British Minister
in Central America succeeded in arranging terms with the Govern-
ment of Honduras. Before, however, the proposals could be sub-
mitted to the Bondholders, the United States Government inter-
vened and substituted its own scheme, which contemplated the re-
funding of the entire indebtedness of the Republic. Negotiations
then took place with the Council and Committee, who were able
to secure a considerable improvement in the terms as originally
proposed, and it was agreed that, subject to the necessary arrange-
ment being made between the Government of the United States
and Honduras, Messrs. Morgan and Company should purchase the
Bonds of the External Debt at the rate of 15 cash for each 100
nominal bonds with all overdue interest. The agreement allowed
a period of one year 'for the arrangement to be effected, and the
Council thereupon, in accordance with Messrs. J. P. Morgan's re-
quest, invited the Bondholders to deposit their securities in asseni
to the scheme. A prompt and satisfactory response was given to
this invitation, the amount of bonds lodged with us and on 11\c
Continent being about 4,000,000, which constitutes a large major-
ity of the total debt said to be outstanding."
"The date fixed for the arrangement to be conclude*] nnl the
cash payment was the 4th of August next, but under the conditions
of deposit an extension of time could be granted if approved by
resolution of a general meeting of the holders of certificates issued
in respect of deposited bonds. The question which you have
to consider i- whether you are prepared to grant an extrusion."
Ill
LETTER FROM MESSRS. MORGAN, GRENFELL AND
COMPANY.
We had confidently hoped that the 15 cash would be paid
on or before the 4th of August, but a few days ago we received a
letter from Messrs. Morgan, Grenfell and Company informing us
that their friends in New York were not prepared to make the 1
payment on that date. This letter is as follows:
22 Old Broad Street, London, E. C., July 18, 1910.
James P. Cooper, Esq.,
Secretary, Council of Honduras External Debt.
"Dear Sir: Referring to the letter, of 27th July, 1909, from
our predecessors, Messrs. J. P. Morgan and Company, to yourself
with a view to an arrangement of. the External Debt of Honduras,
we beg to inform you that our friends Messrs. J. P. Morgan and
Company advise us that the arrangement between the United
States of America and the Republic of Honduras, contemplated
under the first condition of deposit, has not been concluded, and'
that consequently they will not be able to make payment mentioned
in the said condition of deposit on the 4th proximo.
"We understand from Messrs. J. P. Morgan and Company that
the negotiations are proceeding satisfactory on the other side. Thtr
Honduras Congress will meet in October, and if approved thereby,
the proposition for the seltloment of the debt will be subject to-
ratification by the Congress of the United States of America,
which meets in December. Should either of the Governments fail
to approve the project would have to be dropped, but in case the
matter should be definitely settled before the end of the current
year.
"Under these circumstances, Messrs. J. P. Morgan and Com-
pany are willing to extend the present arrangements for a further
six months say, till the 4th February, 1911, should the Council
of Foreign Bondholders wish to do so.
"Messrs. J. P. Morgan and Company inform us that from
advices received they are hopeful of a successful result from the
negotiations.
"We shall be glad if you will submit Messrs. J. P. Morgan and
112
Company's proposal to your Committee and advise us of its deci-
sion as regards the extension of the agreement with the Bond-
holders for a further six months."
Yours faithfully,,
(Signed) MORGAN, GRENFELL AND CO.
"This letter contains the whole of the information which
Messrs. Morgan and Company have been able to give us. "While
we quite admit that it is disappointing that the matter has not
been settled within the time originally allowed, we think it must
be granted that it is impossible to prevent delays arising in deli-
cate negotiations of this .kind, and where two Governments are
concerned, and it is only natural that the United States Govern-
ment should wish the arrangement to receive full and formal ratifi-
cation by Congre-ss. It does not follow that the arrangement will
fall through, and it is, at any rate, satisfactory to note that Messrs.
J. P. Morgan and Compony state that the negotiations are pro-
ceeding with out any hitch, and that they are hopeful of a suc-
cessful result. It certainly would seem that as the United St<ifrs
Government liave intervened and substituted their own scheme in
the place of that negotiated by the Committee under the auspices
of the British Minister, they are bound to see the matter through,
and it is difficult to bolieve that they would have felt justified in
taking the action they did unless they had clearly seen their w<uj fo
bringing the matter to a definite conclusion."
THE QUESTION OF COMPENSATION FOR THE DEL AY.
"Your Committee met on the 20th inst., and, after earefully
considering Messrs. Morgan, Grenfell and Company's letter, eame
to the conclusion that they recommend YOU to irmni tin* extension
of six months propped ly MC--I-. Morgan, provided that inierest
at 5 per cent per annum, running f'-mn August llh, to the date of
payment, i- added to the U.~). This seems an eminently fair and
reasonable proposal, hut I regret t> sav ////// .1/fx.srx. Mort/nn nml
Company do n<>l '/////'>// j/.v^o.sw/ //* full in irifli II. It is therefore,
n-idrr \vhat COUTte you will adopt, whether you will
grant it without any </ni<f /<> </n<>: .,r whether \<m will irrant it
00 condition i n is <rj v( . n f,,,- |he delay, and if
113
so, what, that compensation should be. As an alternative to the
payment of 5 per cent interest, another proposal has occured to us,
and it is this: The total of the External Debt said to he outstand-
ing is5,398 J 570, but owing to the long time the debt has remained
in total default, it is probable that the whole of this amount will
never be presented for payment. The suggestion is that one-half
of the saving effected owing to a smaller amount of bonds claiming
payment should go to the certificate holders in the form- of an ad-
dition to the very modest sum of 15,, which they are offered under
the present scheme. It would be quite possible when the 15 is
paid to give each holder a certificate entitling him to receive his
share of any such saving at the proper time."
*The Chairman:
"By no means. The fact of the matter is that certain formali-
ties are necessary before the scheme can be considered as final.
It is thought that during the next six months they will have been
able to conclude the arrangement, and that it will have been possible
to submit it to the Honduras Chambers and also to the Senate of
"the United States, which is necessary in the case of any treaty.
Mr. Watson:
"Do you think they are likely to accept the alternative sugges-
tion if they will not pay the 5 per cent from the 5th August to the
time of payment?"
The Chairman:
"It is difficult to say. There are precedents in favor of their
making some concession, and of course, the ordinary business
transaction would be that if you cannot pay on a particular date,
you must pay interest until the time for actual payment."
Mr. T. H. Wells:
"If we do not accept the delay what else is there to be done ?"
THE COMMITTEE'S SUGGESTION.
"The Chairman:
"That is for the Bondholders to decide. Perhaps I might
venture now to say what the Committee would suggest, which is
'that we should grant the delay, but that we should require some
^compensation in respect of it. (Hear, Hear!). If you are pre-
114
pared to agree to delay, we would suggest that you should leave-
it to the Council and the Committee to see what terms they can
make. (Hear, Hear!). We do not want to trouble you to meet
again in the month of August, which would be very disagreeable.
We hope that they will make some proposal to us, which perhaps
you might like to make to the council and committee, who have your
interests at heart, to decide upon. But that is, of course, for the bond-
holders to say. I will read you the resolution which we drew up.
thinking that possibly you might like to accept it. It. is as follows :
That this general meeting 1 of holders of deposit certificates rcpre-
$i'ntin(/ llnmhmis Government bonds, hereby authorizes the Council
of Foreign Bondholders and the Committee of Honduras Bo mi-
holders to grant an- extension of the time fixed by the first condi-
tion of deposit for six months; namely, to 4th February. 1911
provided that compensation for the delay is granted in such form or
manner as the Council and Committee may approve." (Hear,
Hear!). We should not, of course, be in a position to make an
arrangement with Messrs. Morgan without compensation except by
another meeting of the bondholders and hearing what their opinion
was. This will merely leave to the Council and Committee the de-
tails of any arrangement for compensation that might be proposed,
and which they might think acceptable to the bondholders/" 7
Mr. F. C. Home:
"I should like to point out to the Bondholders that we an 1
not really receiving compensation for the extension of the option.
We gave Messrs. J. P. Mrgan and Company an option for no/ linn/
running to 4th of August. \Ylicn it expires they mail u*k for an
for six months withonf (/iring -a* compensation or niii/
jn/>n'>nt for the r.rlcimon of the o/ifion : but as the du."
date on which payment should have been made is the 1th of August
we merely ask that it' they carry on the business, they should pay
interest from the 4th of August, as if they had paid cash, because
the Honduras Government should pay it, and it is no doubt through
their fault, that the delay has nceiired. If the business had been
settled thev would have had to pay inteiv-i <>n any new hondx
they issued from the 1th of AU.L'IM : therefore, in asking for this
payment of jnlervsi. we are reall\ only asking them to carry out
the C'ontraet, jrivin.i: them further time and the further option
to carry it out. and 1 am surprised that Messrs. Morgan should
115
have so far refused it. I think that if they meet the Honduras-
Government and confer on the subject they will see that the-
amount is so small it is only about 12,000 that they will not
defer the arrangement on that account, if they mean to carry it
out at all.
"AN EXCELLENT PRECEDENT."
"There is, moreover, an excellent precedent in this matter. 1
was interested in the Santo Domingo Loan, and there we had ta
give one or two delays. It was in 1905-6, that the United States
intervened in the settlement of the debt of Santo Domingo exactly
in the same way as it has done- in that of Honduras, setting on one
side an existing arrangement, which, strange to say, had been made
under its own auspices in 1904, and under which rights of English
holders of Santo Domingo bonds were especially secured. Owing
to a delay of exactly the same nature as had occurred in the present
instance, the new arrangement was not carried into effect until
1908, but the bondholders received compensation by the addition
of interest to the principal amount agreed to be paid. I do not
see that one can have a better example. Although it has not a
direct bearing on the present case, I cannot help talcing this op-
portunity of saying that the English holders of Santo Domingo
bonds, of which I was one, were most unfairly treated under the
arrangement of 1908, as compared with the French and Belgian
holders of identically the same securities; and I must express my
surprise and regret that although hopes have been held out that
we should receive justice, so far nothing has been done. As regards
the present arrangement, I also wish to point out that Messrs. Mor-
gan state in the letter we have heard read that the negotiation
between the two Governments are still proceeding, so that there can
be no difficulty in making alteration in the terms. They have come
to practically no arrangement with the Honduras Government, and
if we hold out for the extra interest I think we shall probably get
it. If not, let them accept the alternative scheme, which will cost
them nothing. We should simply be participating in any bonds
which might be lost or destroyed. I think we should certainly
hold out for something in place of the interest which we are entitled
to if they will not pay the interest itself.
11C
Mr. Watson:
"I think we cannot do better than fall in with the resolution
drafted. We should certainly have some compensation, and I shall
have much pleasure in moving this resolution, as I am satisfied
it is the right course to adopt."
Mr. Wells seconded the resolution and it was carried unani-
mously.
The proceeding them terminated.
Morgan's Options to the Honduras Bonds Expired
February 4th, 1911.
119
EXTRACTS' FROM THE THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION
OF FOREIGN BONDHOLDERS.
FOR THE YEAR 1910.
-General Remarks (page 12).
As to Honduras,, disappointing as the delay must be to the
Bondholders, there are, no doubt, many difficulties in the way;
but, as previously pointed out by the Council, the Government of
the United States, having intervened in order to substitute their
own scheme of settlement in the place of that negotiated in 1909,
by H. M/s Minister in Central America, are under the strongest
obligation to see the matter brought to a successful conclusion.
Honduras (page 16).
The period of twelve months, within which the arrangement
for the settlement of the External Debt was to be concluded, and
the agreed price of 15 Cash per 100 of Bonds paid, expired on
4th August, 1910; but much to the disappointment of the Council,
a notification was received from Messrs. Morgan and Company,
towards the end of July, stating that negotiations between the
Governments of the United States and Honduras had not been
concluded, and that they were therefore unable to make payment on
the date named. In these circumstances it was suggested that an
extension of time for six months should be allowed, although it
was fully expected that the matter would be decided one way or
the other, by the end of the year, as the arrangement was to be sub-
mitted to the Congress of Honduras during the month of October,
and to the United States Senate in December. A public meeting
of the holders of Certificates representing the deposited Bonds was
held at the Council House on July 26th, when it was resolved to
grant an extension of time for six months, viz, to 4th February,
1911, provided compensation was given for the delay in such form
and manner as the Council and Committee might approve. This
resolution was communicated to Messrs. Morgan and Company,
who, in reply, stated that they were not able to pay the Bondholders
anything more than the 15 per 100 of Bonds as originally agreed.
In answer to this, the Council pointed out that the conditions on
which the Bondholders were prepared to assent to the delay in pay-
ment was a reasonable and usual one, and that if the arrangement
120
had been carried through in the stipulated time, the Government
of Honduras would presumably have had to provide interest from
August 4th, 1910, on the entire new Loan to be issued under the
Arrangement. Messrs. Morgan thereupon undertook to communi-
cate the Council's views to their friends in New York. The long-
protracted negotiations between the Governments of the United
States and Honduras were then resumed, but the year 1910 passed,
away without any definite results being arrived at, and without
even the submission of the proposed Arrangement to either Con-
gress. In reply to their inquiries, the council said, however, in-
formed that the negotiations were progressing satisfactorily, and in
his message to the United States Congress, on 6th December, 1910,
President Taf t made the following allusion to the matter :
"The Republic of Honduras has for many years been burdened
with a heavy bonded debt held in Europe, the interest, on which
long ago fell into arrears. Finally, conditions were such that it
became imperative to refund the debt and place the finances of
the Republic upon a sound basis. Last year a group of American
Bankers undertook to do this, and to advance funds for Railway
and other improvements contributing directly to the Country's pros-
perity and commerce an arrangement which has long been desired :
by this Government. Negotiations to this end have been under
way for more than a year, and it is now confidently believed that a
short time will suffice to conclude an arrangement which will be
satisfactory to the foreign creditors, eminently advantageous to
Honduras and highly creditable to the judgment and foresight of
the Honduranean Government. This is much to be desired, since,
as recognized by the Washington Conventions, a strong Honduras
would tend immensely to the progress and prosperity of Centra]
America."
On January 10th, of the present year, a Convention was signed
at Washington between the Representatives of the United States
and Honduras, and it was fully experted that the matin- would lie
concluded before Hie expiration of the six months extension of
time on February 4th, Hondura< had, however, in the meantime
become involve.] in a fn-<li revolution. and tlie \vlmlc of th<
ports on the Atlantic Coast fell into tin- hands of Crnrral Manuel
121
Bonilla, the insurgent leader. The Loan Treaty appears to have
been submitted to Congress at the end of January, but owing, as
it is understood, to the disturbed state of the Country, it failed to>
pass.
On the 1st of February the Council received a communication
from Messrs. Morgan and Company stating that in consequence
of the ratifications not having been exchanged, they were as yet
unable to carry out the purchase of the Bonds, but expected shortly
to approach the Bondholders with an offer like the original one.
Messrs. Morgan and Company stated that the negotiations were
still proceeding, and as the United States have been invited to ar-
range an armistice between the opposing parties, it is hoped that,,
peace being restored, the arrangement will before long become am
accomplished fact.
Thirty-Seventh Annual Report of the Council of the
Corporation of Foreign Bondholders
for the Year 1910.
125
HONDURAS.
'External Debt,
Present Amount. Total.
Five per cent. Loan of 1867 78,800*
Interest (October, 1872, to October,
1910) 149,720
228,520
Ten per cent. Loan of 1867 900,700
Interest (July, 1872, to July, 1910) . . . 3,422,660
4,323,360
Six and two-thirds per cent. Loan of
1869 2,176,570
Interest (March, 1873, to September,
1910 5,441,425
7,617,995.
Ten per cent. Loan of 1870. 2,242,500
Interest (July, 1872, to July, 1910) . . . 8,521,500
10,764,000
Total '. 22,933,875
*The amount of the bonds in circulation is understood to be 60,-
900, the balance of 17,900 being in the hands of the Honduras Govern-
ment.
126
HONDURAS COMMITTEE.
Eight Hon. LOED AVEBUBY, Chairman.
F. BUBT, Esq.
C. T. D. CREWS, Esq.
Hon. SIB C. Wl FBEMANTLE, K.C.B.
F. G. HOBNE, Esq.
ALFBED JAQUES, Esq.
A. PINTO LEITE, Esq.
GEOBGE METCALFE, Esq.
W. J. BEND ALL MOOBE, Esq.
His Honor, Judge SIB THOMAS SNAGGE.
H. T. TATHAM, Esq.
JAMES P. COOPEB, Esq., Secretary.
Area (Estimated), 46,000 square miles.
Population (census 1905), 500,136.
Capital, Tegucigalpa. Population, 34,600.
President, General Miguel B. Davila.
External debt, per head, including arrears of interest, 45,
17s. Id.
British Minister and Consul General for Honduras (resident
at Guatemala), Lionel Garden, Esq.
Agent of the bondholders at Porto Cortes, W. J. Bain, Esq.
127
HISTORY OF THE DEBT (FOREIGN).
1827. Upon the breaking up of the Central American Federation
the proportion of the 6 per cent. Federal Debt (163,000)
alloted to Honduras was two-twelfths, or 27,200. No
interest was paid on this by Honduras.
1867. Five per cent., Conversion Loan. Amount, 90,000. Sink-
ing fund, 1 per cent. Specially secured on the customs
dues of the port of Amapala. This loan was issued for
the conversion of the above debt, amounting, with
arrears of interest, to 90,075, and for the liquidation
of other liabilities in London, amounting to 30,375.
. The holders of the old bonds received 55,000 new bonds
in satisfaction of their claims. The settlement was
affected as a preparation on the part of the Government
for floating a loan for the construction of an Interoceanic
Railway.
1867. Ten per cent. Railway Loan. Amount, 1,000,000. Issued
at 80 per cent, by Messrs. Bischoffsheim & Goldschmidt
for the construction of an Interoceanic Railway. The
interest was secured upon the railway and its revenues
and the produce of the mahogany forests. The Govern-
ment undertook to provide an annuity of 140,000 for
fifteen years from 31st December, 1869, for the service
of the loan, and promised the subscribers half the profits
of the proposed railway for fifteen years after its re-
demption.
1869. Six and two-thirds per cent. Govt. Railway Loan. Amount,
2,490,108. Issued in Paris by Messrs. Dreyfus & Co.
at 75 per cent. Redeemable at par in seventeen years by
half yearly drawings. Security, first mortgage on State
railway and forests.
1870. Ten per cent. Government Railway Loan. Amount, 2,500,-
000. Sinking fund, 3 per cent, by Messrs. Bischoffsheim
& Goldschmidt, on account of Mr. C. J. Lefevre, for the
completion of the Interoceanic Railway. Security, the
railway and its revenues and the produce of State
domains.
1872-73. All four loans went into default, the interest having been
paid out of the money borrowed.
128
1875. The loans were the subject of investigation by a Parliamen-
tary Committee.
1887-93. A concession, which included a settlement of the Ex-
ternal Debt, was granted to Mr. Binney for the comple-
tion of the Interoceanic Railway. The existing bonds of
the Foreign Loans, with arrears of interest, were to be
exchanged for 100 shares in a new railway company to
be formed in London. The old bonds were to be lodged
in the Bank of England pending the completion of the
railway, upon which the Government was empowered to
cancel them. The company was formed in 1888, but the
Government declined to renew the concession when it ex-
pired in 1892. A similar concession was granted to an
American Company, which, however, contained no pro-
vision for the settlement of the debt, and was canceled
in 1893".
1896. A new concession for the construction of the Interoceanic
Railway, and embracing a settlement of the External
Debt, was granted to the "Honduras Railway Company/ 5
who appear to have been the successors of the company
formed in 1892. The terms proposed to be offered to
the bondholders were 15 in shares in exchange for each
100 of bonds with 23 years arrears of interest. The
committee declined to submit such a proposal to the
bondholders .and the concession lapsed.
1897. An American syndicate, styled the "Honduras Syndicate,"
who were the successors of the "Honduras Railway Com-
l>;my." concluded a contract with the Government for
the building of the railway, the settlement of the foreign
debt, and the establishment of a bank charged with the
collection of the customs. Each 100 External IVbt
liond, with arrears of interest, was to be exchanged for
I' *.'") of new iy* per cent, bonds, redeemable within . ) .">
years, and secured liy a guarantee from the hank and a
tirst charge upon the railway. The contract did not
... specify the date at which interest on the new bonds
would hcLfin. nor the len-ili of time allowed for the con-
ton. All new bonds not claimed within the period
allowed by the Syndicate were to be divided between it.
129
and the Government. The committee consented to nego-
tiate on the basis proposed, provided that they were satis-
fied with the security offered': that the interest com-
menced forthwith, and that -the conversion remained
open for a reasonable time. Disputes, however, arose
between the Government and the Syndicate, owing to the
latter having failed to carry out its contract as regards
both the construction of the railway and the settlement
of the External Debt, which led to the revocation of the
concession in 1900,
1900. A second contract with the "Honduras Syndicate" was
approved by Congress on the 26th of May, 1900. This
arrangement provided for a lease of the already con-
structed portion of the railway to the Syndicate for 25
years at an annual rental of $15,000 gold. Under pain
of forfeiting the lease, the Syndicate bound itself:
(a) To erect a bridge over the Ulua, and to reconstruct
that over the Chamlecon within two years from the
approval of the contract; (b) to reconstruct the exist-
ing line within four years, and (c) to build and open
to traffic the line from Ulua to Comayagua within five
years. It also undertook to construct 25 kilometres of
railway within two years, and to complete the line to
the Gulf of Fonseca within seven years from the same
date. The Syndicate also obtained a preferential right
to construct branch lines, and, for fifteen years from the
fulfillment of stipulations (a), (b) and (c), the right
to construct a line from the Northern Coast parallel to
the existing section. This contract contained no refer-
ence to the External Debt.
1902. The Syndicate, notwithstanding its failure to carry out the
conditions of the above contract, obtained an extension
of time of one year from the Government viz., to 26ijt
May, 1903.
1903. The "Honduras Syndicate" again failed to execute the
works required under its contract, and the Government
on 26th May took possession of the railway.
130
1 903-0 j. Dr. Angel TTgarte was sent to Europe by the Govern-
ment as Special Commissioner in connection with the
settlement of the debt. The proposals made by Dr.
Ugarte were rejected by the committee as entirely
inadmissible.
1009. Proposals for a settlement were made by Messrs. J. S.
Co. (See page 16 of Report for 1909).*
CONCLUSION.
133
CONCLUSION.
By the documents herein published it appears that from 1867
to 1870 Honduras authorized four issues of bonds in Europe to
the amount of 6,080,108, of which only 681,538 have been
redeemed, and 5,398,570 are outstanding, with arrears of interest
to the approximate sum of 17,535,305 :
-Bonds Arrears of
issued redeemed, outstanding. interest.
1867, London . . . 90,000 11,200 78,800 149,720
1867, London ... 1,000,000 99,300 900,700 3,422,660
1869, Paris 2,490,108 313,538 2,176,570 5,441,425
1870, London . . . 2,500,000 257,500 2,242,500 8,521,500
6,080,108 681,538 5,398,570 17,535,305
According to the conditions of the prospectus, these bonds
should have produced enough to build the Interoceanic railway,
miles long, from Puerto Cortes to the Bay of Fonseca:
Second issue, 1,000,000 bonds at 80% 800,000
Third issue, 2,490,108 bonds at 75%-, 1,867,581
issue, 2,500,000 bonds *t 80%--^ 2,000,000
5,990,108 bonds 4,867,581
The c<m*t ruction of the railway was contracted with Messrs,
Waring Brothers & McCandlish, of London, for 2 3 230,000 !
First section 53 miles 500,000
Second section 85 miles 930,000
Third section 92 miles, , 800,000
230 miles 2,230,000
The contractors received 689,745 and built only 53 miles of
the line. What disposition was made of the proceeds of the loans?
The Import of the Select Committee of the British Parliament,
which investigated these loans, gives a full and com])] etc account
of the many frauds committed in the issue and sale of the bonds,
and of the misappropriation of the funds. This report is pub-
lished in the Blue Book of the British Parliament of 1875.
134
Notwithstanding the circumstances of the many illegal trans-
actions made in London and Paris in the name of Honduras, we
always have tried to settle this question on an equitable basis, and
never have thought of repudiating the debt.
We owe what we received. The amount has been fixed by
debtor and creditor to be 453,000, as per the Garden agreement
of March, 1909.
Xow that this arrangement has been broken on account of
the United States interposing, we have to deal with the problem
as it stands to-day.
Honduras needs the Interoceanic Railway for her industrial
and commercial development ; but the Railway Bonds are a burden
on the line, which cannot be carried to its completion unless they
are refunded or cancelled.
How to solve this problem?
How to settle the Railway debt?
How to build the Railway?
Must we have to borrow money?
How much can we borrow?
What is our borrowing capacity ?
What security can we give?
These questions can be answered as follows:
1. We need to arrange the external debt in order to free
the Railway from any mortgage and proceed with its construction.
2. To arrange the debt we need no loan at all, because Hon-
duras is able to pay annual installments proportionate to her
financial resources, provided a syndicate undertakes the construc-
tion of the railway.
3. If Honduras would make a loan to cancel af (tncc the old
Unids. the annuity would be more than if she agrees to the plan
of amorti/ation of the old bonds proposed by the bondholders in
!'.">:;. cancelling:- C.'nn.nnn bonds cadi year, at an increasing rate
of in to W% in the course of ->\ years, as follows:
1 years, I'-.'nn.nnn lionds each year.... at in<;
1 years, 200,000 Bonds ea< -h year.... at 1.",
4 years, 200,000 Bonds each year. . . .at 11',
4 years, 200,000 Bonds each year.... at 16%
4 years, 200,000 Bonds cadi year i\ L8$
7 years, 200,000 Bonds ,,,,.1, year,,,, at .
135
In this way Honduras would pay in 27 installments 840,000,
as follows:
4 annuities of 20,000 each 80,000
4 annuities of 24,000 each 96,000
4 annuities of 28,000 each... 112,000
4 annuities of 32,000 each 128,000
4 annuities of 36,000 each 144,000
7 annuities of 40,000 each 280,000
Total 840,000
4. By assuming the payment of the debt, Honduras may
grant a concession for the construction of the second and third
sections of the Interoceanic Railway. Any American syndicate
would be willing to have the first section with the obligation of
building the second and third within a reasonable time.
5. Instead of the Government financing the Interoceanic
Railway, Honduras would allow an American syndicate do it as a
business proposition.
6. Honduras has no means to pay the interest and sinking
fund of a big loan. She can spare some money from her actual
income for the amortization of the old bonds, relying on the
probable increment of the Government revenues through the in-
crease of business which the construction of the Interoceanic Rail-
way would assure.
7. Honduras could not give other security for a loan than
the Customs Revenues and the Railway. But the financiers want
to have the direct administration of the customs houses and Rail-
way under the protection of their Government. Honduras has
rejected this proposition, and is disposed to start new negotiations
for the settlement of the debt and the construction of the Railway.
