Benjamin Harrison Signed Document Re: The Santos Convention in Ecuador

2pp of a bifolium, measuring 10.25" x 14", Washington, D.C., dated December 17, 1892. Signed "Benj Harrison" as President and "John W. Foster" as Secretary of State. An official document authorizing "Rowland B. Mahany, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Ecuador…to negotiate, conclude and sign a Convention between the United States and Ecuador providing for the arbitration of the claim of Julio R. Santos against the Government of Ecuador…" With a large white paper seal at the conclusion. The document has flattened folds, foxing, and faint edge toning. Creasing and small separations to the paper seal. Boldly signed by Harrison.

Julio R. Santos was born in Ecuador, then immigrated to the United States and was naturalized before moving back to Ecuador and taking part in a revolution there. Ecuador argued that Mr. Santos became a U.S. citizen solely for protection and was now abusing this protection to escape prosecution for crimes against the Ecuadorian government. This was something that Abraham Lincoln himself warned against in his 1863 State of the Union address. Nevertheless, in 1885, the Cleveland administration insisted that Santos was a U.S. citizen and had the right to claim the protection from the United States despite the opposing claims of Ecuador. A legal battle ensued, lasting through the Cleveland and Harrison presidencies before concluding with the second Cleveland presidency. Negotiations were completed in February 1893, when Rowland Mahany traveled to Ecuador in 1893 for the Santos Convention. The arbitrator found in favor of the claimant, and Santos was awarded $40,000.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!