Colombian Government claims it is impossible to secure ratification of Root-Cortes treaties without thereby causing [revolution?]. I believe this is true as public opinion now stands, and that the present proposition is made with the expectation of vote being for separation, but with the hope that a vote of Panama will so far satisfy Colombian people as to allow ratification of some satisfactory treaties. No. 53.] Minister Northcott to the Secretary of State. NORTHCOTT. AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogota, February 18, 1910. SIR: On the 5th of January last I had the honor to send you the following code cable.1 Since then, on every occasion that I have seen him, Dr. Calderon, the Colombian minister for foreign affairs, has inquired anxiously of me as to what reply I have received. Not having received your instructions up to this time, I have so told him, but I should like very much, if it meets with your approval, to be cabled upon receipt of this, if no directions have as yet been sent, what reply to make. I have, etc., ELLIOTT NORTHCOTT. The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Northcott. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Answering your dispatch No. 53 and your January 5, 5 p. m., you are informed that the attitude of the department as outlined in its telegram of June 11, 1909, remains unchanged. No. 81.] Minister Northcott to the Secretary of State. WILSON. AMERICAN LEGATION, SIR: I have the honor to report that on Wednesday last, May 11, while calling on the Colombian minister for foreign affairs, in company with Secretary Frazier, the minister handed me a note dated December 20, 1909, dealing with the tripartite treaties. The minister stated at the time that he had held the note hoping that something would come of his suggestion as to a plebiscite, but that he now thought it best to deliver it. Copy of note referred to and translation, together with my reply thereto, are inclosed. Í have, etc., ELLIOTT NORTHCOTT. 1 Printed ante. [Inclosure 1-Translation.] The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Minister Northcott. FOREIGN OFFICE, Bogota, December 20, 1909 MR. MINISTER: Referring to the esteemed note which your excellency addressed to me on the 26th of October last regarding the views of the Government of the United States upon the treaties of January 9 last, it is my duty to allude to the friendly sentiments which have suggested to the the Government of Colombia the idea of omitting the treaties of Washington rather than to ask of the Colombian Congress an approval which in all probability would be refused. The Government of Colombia does not consider it an opportune moment to explain to your excellency the motives of the obligations incurred in the treaties in behalf of this Republic, but in view of the declarations made to the Cabinet in Washington from 1903 until last year, in relation to the events which in 1903 determined the independence of the Isthmus of Panama and of the solemn agreements binding the two Republics, they (the Government of Colombia) believe it necessary to state that the true purpose of these treaties is, in their opinion, to define the legal relations which have arisen between the three contracting parties as a result of the events above referred to; that is to say, the monetary advances to Colombia, stiplated in the treaties of the 9th of January, did not have and can not have the character of favors but of compensation or indemnity for acts which in their judgement, have inflicted pred udice and caused injury to their duly acquired rights. Without reproducing at present the extensive and weighty arguments of various kinds, with which Colombia has supported her demands before the Government of the United States, I believe it nevertheless to be my duty to remaind your excellency that the character which must be given to negotiations through which an agreement may be reached upon pending questions is not a matter of the first importance to the Government of Colombia, so long as the honor and vital interests of the contracting parties are not compromised. In the meantime I beg your excellency will accept the manifestations contained in this dispatch as an expression of the sincere desire which animates the Government of Colombia to facilitate an agreement which may satisfy every legitimate right and every consideration of honor involved in the differences existing between the two States. [Inclosure 2-Translation.] CARLOS CALDERÓN. No. 41.] Minister Northcott to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogota, May 12, 1910. YOUR EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency's esteemed note of December 20, 1909, which your excellency was good enough to hand to me personally yesterday. In reply I beg to say that I have noted your excellency's sentiments in regard to the treaties of Washington, and that I will duly transmit them to my Government. I avail, etc. ELLIOTT NORTHCOTT. Mr. Monroe reports that earthquakes have been continuous in San Jose for the past 60 hours. Says there are property losses, but no loss of life, and that there is excitement on all sides. File No. 24354/2. No. 1483.] Chargé Monroe to the Secretary of State. [Extract.] AMERICAN LEGATION, San Jose, April 16, 1910. SIR: I have the honor to report that since midnight of April 12 a series of earthquake shocks have been felt here. One of them is said to have been the strongest felt since 1888. There has been damage to property, but no lives have been lost. The excitement was intense and continues; parks and open places are filled with tents where people sleep at night. Port Limon on the Atlantic and Puntarenas on the Pacific report no shocks. I have, etc., File No. 24354/4. G. L. MONROE, Jr. Chargé Monroe to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Mr. Monroe reports destruction of Cartago by earthquake, during which it is estimated that 500 persons were killed or wounded. Says court of peace was destroyed. Reports that Americans are safe. Adds that San Jose was badly shaken, but says no lives were lost. File No. 24354/4. The Secretary of State to Chargé Monroe. [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Express to the Costa Rican Government and to the Central American court of justice the profound sympathy of the United States in the calamity at Cartago. KNOX. File No. 24354/4. President Taft to the President of Costa Rica. [Telegram.] THE WHITE HOUSE, Accept the profound sympathy of the people and Government of the United States in the calamity at Cartago, of which I learn with the deepest regret. File No. 24595. Chargé Monroe to the Secretary of State. WM. H. TAFT. [Telegram.] AMERICAN LEGATION, San Jose, May 6, 1910. The Government of Costa Rica requires assistance. Did not ask for it. Catastrophe in Cartago by far the worst that the country has had. Horrible calamity. MONROE. File No. 24595/A. The Acting Secretary of State to Chargé Monroe. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Mr. Wilson directs Mr. Monroe to draw on department in sums of $1,000 as needed up to a limit of $5,000. Informs him that money has been contributed by the American Red Cross, and is to be carefully disbursed at his discretion for relief of Cartago earthquake sufferers, and if investigation is necessary to go himself or send consular officer. File No. 24354/5. The Costa Rican Minister to the Secretary of State. COSTA RICAN LEGATION, YOUR EXCELLENCY: Official cablegrams received at this legation yesterday evening convey the very sad information that the city of Cartago was ruined by an earthquake Wednesday night, the 4-5 instant; that there were many victims there, but none in any other place; and that the new building for the Central American court of justice was entirely destroyed. In consideration of the great and friendly interest shown by the illustrious Government of the United States of America in promoting peace and welfare among the Republics of Central America, which brought about the Central American Peace Conference of Washington three years ago, and having in mind that Mr. Andrew Carnegie, although as a private citizen but in consequence of the success of this conference, made the donation of $100,000 to erect said building, I beg leave to request of your excellency that the report of the destruction of the same be transmitted to him. With many thanks in advance, I have, etc., J. B. CALVO. File No. 24354/6. The President of Costa Rica to President Taft. [Telegram.-Translation.] SAN JOSE, May 7-8, 1910. In the name of the people and Government of Costa Rica I express to your excellency our most profound gratitude. File No. 24354/10. No. 1485.] CLETO GONZALEZ VIQUEZ. Chargé Monroe to the Secretary of State. [Extract.] AMERICAN LEGATION, SIR: I have the honor to transmit the following report relative to the earthquake that devastated Cartago and some neighboring villages on the evening of May 4 last: At 10 minutes before 7 o'clock a strong shock was felt in San Jose, but very little damage was done even to buildings that had suffered on April 13 last. I was giving a dinner that evening in honor of the President of the Republic, Señor don Cleto Gonalez Viquez, and a quarter of an hour after the shock the president; the president-elect, Don Ricardo Jiménez; the minister for foreign affairs, Mr. Ricardo Fernandez-Guardia, and his wife, the Mexican chargé d'affairs; and Madame Najara y de Pindter and others arrived. I mention this to show how accustomed we had become to earthquakes since the one of April 13. The shocks, slight ones, continued throughout dinner, and it was not until the next morning that I knew that Cartago had been destroyed. Mr. Gonzalez Viquez and Mr. Jiménez, the President who was inaugurated Sunday, May 6, however, went to Cartago that same evening after leaving this legation. Since then I have seen the ruined city. It was a town of about 6,000 inhabitants, and it is estimated that 500 people perished in the earthquake. Nearly 400 have already been buried. Many people were still living in tents, because they dreaded a repetition of the shock of April 13, and this prevented a greater loss of life. The wounded have been and are being brought to a large temporary hospital here. I have bought sheets, blankets, etc., for this hospital with the money so splendidly and so promptly sent by the American Red Cross. I am using the money where I think it will do the most good. At present there is money enough; at least, Mr. John Keith, the head of the local association of charities, says there is. Mr. Minor Keith, of the United Fruit Co., sent 25,000 colones (about |