regarding wireless stations in Panama and directing me to use my influence against the erection of any radio stations in Panama except those of the Navy Department of the United States. In reply I beg to state that I shall not fail to use my influence as directed. In this connection I desire to state that in a recent conversation upon this subject with Señor Chiari, Minister for Foreign Affairs, he requested me to inquire of the Department whether some arrangement could not be made as to the disposition of the wireless apparatus purchased by the Panaman Government for erection on the National Theatre in Panama City (despatch No. 71, of February 14th, 1912), all the parts of which had now been delivered here and which had cost the Panaman Government altogether about $6,000. As he understood that the Government of the United States desired to erect and maintain as a monopoly all wireless stations in the Republic, he suggested that it would only be fair that the Government of the United States should reimburse the Panaman Government for its outlay in this apparatus by purchasing it for use in its contemplated system. It should be noted that Mr. Reynolds Hitt, in his despatch No. 21, of June 30, 1910, reports that he had mentioned to the Minister for Foreign Affairs that his predecessors, Señor Arias and Señor Arango, had informed Mr. Squiers that the Panaman Government would not enter into negotiations "for the establishment of a system of wireless telegraphy between Colon and the coast of Colombia and of a wireless station in the city of Panama," "without first consulting the United States and securing its assent," and that in reply the Minister had "stated that he understood that to be the present attitude of the Panaman Government." Unless this assurance should be understood as referring only to the granting of concessions to third parties for establishing wireless stations, and, consequently, as not affecting wireless stations to be established by the Panaman Government itself, the recent purchase of this apparatus for Panama City, as to which the Government of the United States was not consulted, must, of course, be considered as a breach of this assurance. I nevertheless believe that if any breach was committed by the Panaman Government it was not intentional, but was the result of the unsystematic conduct of the Panaman Foreign Office and of the frequent changes of Foreign Ministers and personnel, which make the permanence of such understanding here extremely precarious. In view of all the circumstances I consider that it would be advisable to make use of this apparatus, if suitable, reimbursing to the Panaman Government, such a sum as may fairly represent its value. I have [etc.] File No. 819.74/17. F. PERCIVAL DODGE. The Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Navy. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR Referring to your letter of April 22nd last, I have the honor to enclose for your information a copy of a despatch1 from the This refers to the Minister's despatch No. 148, of June 12. American Minister at Panama stating that he will use his influence against the erection of any radio stations in Panama except those under the jurisdiction of the Navy Department. The Department will be glad to receive such comments as you may desire to make. I have [etc.] File No. 819.74/18. P. C. KNOX. The Acting Secretary of the Navy to the Secretary of State. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, July 2, 1912. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of June 29, 1912, enclosing a copy of a despatch from the American Minister at Panama stating that he will use his influence against the erection of radio stations in Panama, and citing an inquiry from the Panaman Minister for Foreign Affairs as to whether some arrangement could not be made relative to the disposition of the radio apparatus purchased by the Panama Government for erection on the National Theatre in Panama City. In reply I have the honor to reiterate the opinion of this Department that it would be prejudicial to the military and naval interests of our Government to have radio stations erected and operated by private individuals or by the Panaman Government. Pursuant to a decision of your Department that it would not be necessary to secure permission from the Government of Panama to erect coastal radio stations in Panama as one of the means of preserving the integrity of the Republic, this Department will undertake to ascertain the electrical conditions in certain localities along the coast of Panama, and when appropriation is available, will erect the above-mentioned coastal stations. Referring to the inquiry of the Panaman Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have the honor to request that you convey to his Government the information that this Department is ready to take over the radio apparatus purchased for use on the National Theatre in Panama City at the price named if, upon inspection, the apparatus is found to be as represented and in good condition. Respectfully yours, File No. 819.74/18. No. 61.] BEEKMAN WINTHROP The Secretary of State to the American Minister. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, July 10, 1912. SIR: Referring to your No. 148 of the 12th ultimo, I enclose a copy of a letter from the Acting Secretary of the Navy stating that that Department is ready to take over the radio apparatus, purchased for use on the National Theatre in Panama City at the price named if, upon inspection, the apparatus is found to be as represented and in good condition. The letter of July 2. You will convey to the Foreign Office the substance of the letter of the Acting Secretary of the Navy. I am [etc.] P. C. KNOX. File No. 819.74/19. No. 179.] The American Minister to the Secretary of State. [Extract.] AMERICAN LEGATION, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction No. 61, dated the 10th ultimo, enclosing a copy of a letter from the Acting Secretary of the Navy stating that that Department is ready to take over the radio apparatus purchased for use on the National Theatre in Panama City at the price named if, upon inspection, the apparatus is found to be as represented and in good condition, and to inform you that according to the directions therein, I immediately addressed a note to Señor Chiari, Minister for Foreign Affairs, conveying to him the substance of the letter of the Acting Secretary of the Navy. On the following day Major Butler, U. S. M. C., commanding the Marine battalion at Bas Obispo, Canal Zone, informed me that he had received instructions, also from the Navy Department, to inspect the apparatus in question and to report as to the possibility of erecting it temporarily on the National Theatre or elsewhere near by. * * * He informed me that he will report adversely to erecting the apparatus even temporarily in Panaman territory, as its proper installation, protection, etc., would in that case probably cause continual difficulties, and recommend that it should be erected temporarily somewhere near Balboa, where the Isthmian Canal Commission have offered a site. I entirely agree with Major Butler's opinion as to the inadvisability of erecting this apparatus in Panaman territory. I have [etc.] F. PERCIVAL DODGE. File No. 819.74/19. The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Navy. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 22, 1912. SIR: Referring to previous correspondence, I have the honor to enclose a copy of a despatch' from the American Minister at Panama regarding the proposed purchase from Panama of the radio apparatus, the property of the Panaman Government in Panama. I have [etc.] ALVEY A. ADEE. That of August 7. File No. 819.74/19. The Acting Secretary of State to the American Minister. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 22, 1912. SIR: The Department has received your No. 179, of the 7th instant, regarding the question of the proposed purchase by the United States of the radio apparatus now the property of the Panaman Government. A copy of your despatch has been forwarded to the Secretary of the Navy. I am [etc.] ALVEY A. ADEE. File No. 819.74/20. The Acting Secretary of the Navy to the Secretary of State. [Extract.] DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter1 of August 22, 1912, with enclosure of despatch No. 179 from the American Minister at Panama, in reference to the purchase by this Department of the radio set at Panama, now owned by the Panaman Government. I agree with the Minister's recommendation that this set should not be operated upon Panaman territory. Very respectfully, W. C. TWINING. File No. 819.74/23. The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé d'Affaires of Panama. No. 16.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: The Department has received a letter1 from the Acting Secretary of the Navy in which he asks it to ascertain from you whether it would be agreeable to your Government for the Navy Department to pay for the radio receiving set, forming part of the radio set purchased from your Government by that Department, in the same manner as the previous payment was made, namely to the Consul General of Panama at New York. The Department will be gratified to receive your reply after you have heard from your Government. Accept [etc.] HUNTINGTON WILSON. 1 Not printed. File No. 819.74/24. No. 42.] The Minister of Panama to the Secretary of State. [Translation.] LEGATION OF PANAMA, Washington, November 26, 1912. EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your excellency's communication No. 16 of October 12 last, in which this Legation is informed that the Department of State has received a note from the Navy Department inquiring whether it would be agreeable to my Government to deposit at the Consulate General of Panama at New York the sum due my Government for the wireless telegraphy receiving apparatus bought from it by the Navy Department. In reply I have the honor to say that in Note No. S181 of November 8 the Foreign Office of my country transmits to me a note froin the Treasury Department dated November 6 stating that the Government of Panama has not the least objection to the payment being made as above mentioned, which has been the custom on previous occasions. I have [etc.] RAMÓN M. VALDÉS. VISIT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE REPUBLICS OF CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN SEA. File No. 033.1100 K77. The Acting Secretary of State to the Ministers of Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama; the Minister of Costa Rica in charge of the Legation of Salvador; and the Minister of Venezuela. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 13, 1912. MY DEAR MR. MINISTER: Impressed with the importance of the relations between the United States and the Republics of Central America and the Caribbean Sea, happily so friendly and grown closer and more intimate with the approach of the opening of the Panama Canal, from which are hoped so many mutual benefits to our countries, the President has directed the Secretary of State to visit the capitals of the Republics referred to, stopping also at the capitals of Venezuela and Panama, and probably visiting Mexico and Colombia as well. The final decision of the President was made so shortly before the departure of Mr. Knox for Florida that it was not possible to give you early private information of this plan, and even now I must reserve for a later communication the pleasure of informing you of the precise date of the visit of the Secretary of State to [name of country]. Before his departure Mr. Knox asked me to assure you of the great pleasure with which he looks forward to visiting your country1 and personally knowing those at the head of its Government, and to To the representative of Salvador: "Salvador" in place of your country." |