of foreign salt. In this manner the hundreds of thousands of pesos, gold, going out of the country to pay for foreign salt consumed in the departments of the Pacific will be stopped; Colombia is conceded the right to enter the Canal Zone with such of her products, as provisions, fatted cattle, etc., for consumption, under the same conditions as the products of the United States. This concession promises for our agricultural industries and the welfare of our shores on both oceans-especially for the farmers of the Atlantic coast-a benefit worth thousands of pesos, gold, annually in the exportation of fatted cattle only, which exportation, as we all know, has ended with great detriment, owing to the fact that the markets of Cuba and of the Isthmus imposed a duty of 15 pesos, gold, on each head of fatted cattle; Further, the treaty concedes to us the free passage of the canal— free of all taxes for the navy of our country, whether in case of interior or exterior wars; Upon guaranty of the United States, Panama will pay to Colombia $2,500,000, corresponding to its participation in the foreign debt; and The boundaries will be the same as those determined by the law of the 9th of June, 1855. All these concessions are of such importance and magnitude that we have to recognize that the American Government has made an effort to give us satisfaction for the injustices committed against Colombia, and of which the diplomatic mission-of which the actual President of Colombia was chief claimed, in the well-known note of grievance which to-day is placed in the right before the eyes of the civilized world. In our yesterday's edition we gave space to a letter addressed to the Herald by the well-known American professor, Hamilton Rice, in which he recognized the unjust manner in which Colombia was treated, and with grand altruistic spirit advised his country that they give satisfaction enforcing the principles of equity, a satisfaction which must correspond to the greatness of the American people. The council of ministers, in its session of yesterday, convoked the National Assembly to extraordinary sessions, which will reunite on the 22d instant to consider, in addition to the budget of revenues and expenses of the present year, the treaties in question. We understand that they have already been approved by the Assembly of Panama, and judging by cable advices, they will also be approved by the American Senate, which at present is discussing them. Our minister in Washington was not mistaken when he reported to our minister for foreign affairs the generosity of these treaties, a fact which has been recognized by the sort of plebiscite which has begun in this country regarding this important question. By telegrams, which we have published in this periodical from several parts of the Republic, it will be seen that public opinion is unanimous in approbation. Minister Dawson to Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN LEGATION, BOGOTA (undated) (Received Feb. 14, 1909.) Arrived. National Assembly summoned for February 22; prospects ratification favorable. Minister Dawson to Secretary of State. DAWSON. [Telegram.] AMERICAN LEGATION, BOGOTA (Received Feb. 17, 1909). After an informal conference with 21 members of the National Assembly already present, out of 48, yesterday, the President of Colombia and the Colombian minister for foreign affairs quite confident of the unanimous ratification so soon as the assembly meets. treaties are satisfactory in every detail. Inform the minister of Colombia. The DAWSON. No. 235.] Minister Dawson to Secretary of State. AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogota, February 17, 1909. SIR: As I had the honor of reporting to the department by my telegram of the 13th instant, I arrived in Bogota on that day, carrying the treaties between Colombia and the United States and Panama. They were at once delivered, but owing to the slight illness of the minister for foreign affairs and the intervention of Sunday I was not able to resume my official relations with this Government until the 15th. I inclose herewith a note to that effect addressed to the minister for foreign affairs and a copy and translation of his reply received to-day. From Cartagena, Gamarra, and Ambalema I telegraphed President Reyes or the minister for foreign affairs. At Cartegena, Barranquilla, Gamarra, Honda, Mariquita, Ambalema, and Girardot, as well as on the steamboats and at Bogota, I conversed with a large number of Colombians of different shades of political opinion, and was able to detect no criticism of the terms of the treaties or indication of an intention to oppose their ratification by the National Assembly. Among some enemies of President Reyes it is said that he ought to call a new election for a congress composed of two houses, and submit the treaties to it, but there seems to be no likelihood of any concerted action in this direction. Prior to my arrival at Cartagena, President Reyes considered the advisability of such action, and 42112-S. Doc. 474, 63-2-13 consulted many prominent citizens about it. While I was on the river he announced that since public opinion was overwhelmingly in favor of the treaties and their prompt ratification, he had determined to summon the National Assembly for the 22d instant. (See Mr. Hibben's Nos. 232 and 233 of the 12th and 13th instant.) Yesterday (February 16) I had a long interview with President Reyes. He had read the text of the treaties and made no criticism of any of their details, referring with much satisfaction to their very exact correspondence with his instructions given in 1905 and 1906 through Dr. Climaco Calderon, then minister for foreign affairs. He had no doubt that the National Assembly would ratify them by an overwhelming or even a unanimous vote, and this by the end of next week. He and the minister for foreign affairs had an informal conference with 21 of the 48 members of which the assembly is composed. (See my telegram of to-day.) Their votes were assured. Members were arriving rapidly, and he would see about 20 more in a day or two. Telegrams were pouring in daily from all parts of Colombia expressing satisfaction with the treaties. President Reyes manifested great anxiety about ratification by the United States Senate. He showed me a telegram, dated February 14, from Minister Cortés, in which the latter stated that it was probable the Senate would amend the treaty between Panama and the United States. Reyes fears that this may delay the Senate's ratification of the Colombian-United States treaty, and suspects that the Government of Panama will intrigue to this end. He had already answered Cortés's telegram saying something to this effect. I told him that the latest instructions from my Government (see your telegram of February 9) indicated that the department was strongly of the opinion that Colombia's interests would be furthered by her immediately ratifying, and that I had no news of any disposition on the part of the Senate to amend the Colombian treaty or delay its ratification. I have the honor to be, sir, Your obedient servant, [Inclosure 1 in No. 235.] T. C. DAWSON. FEBRUARY 15, 1909. F. O. No. 42.] Mr. MINISTER. I have the honor to announce to your excellency that, having returned after my congé, I have again assumed the discharge of my duties at this post. I take advantage of this occasion to express my thanks for your excellency's kindness to Mr. Paxton Hibben, who has been chargé d'affaires since September 20 last, during my absence, and to express the hope that the admirable relations existing between your excellency's Government and my own and this legation will continue. I improve this opportunity to renew to your excellency the assurances of my highest consideration. To His Excellency Dr. FRANCISCO JOSÉ URRUTIA, Minister for Foreign Affairs. [Inclosure 3 in No. 235.] MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Mr. MINISTER: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency's courteous communication of yesterday's date. By the same I note that your excellency, having returned to this city from which you have been absent on leave, has again resumed the exercise of the functions corresponding to your character as diplomatic representative of the United States to Colombia. I highly appreciate the friendly manifestations you have had the kindness to extend to me, which inspire me with the assurance that not only will the bonds which so happily unite the Republic of Colombia with the United States become closer, but that the official relations with your honorable legation will, in the future, be as frank and cordial as those up to the present time, which I have had the pleasure of cultivating with the chargé d'affaires ad interim, Mr. Hibben. I beg that your excellency accept the reiterated assurances of my most distinguished consideration. FRANCISCO JOSÉ URRUTIA. To His Excellency T. C. DAWSON, Plenipotentiary of the United States. Minister Dawson to Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogota, February 23, 1909. The treaties passed reading to-day. The proceedings public. The treaties now are before a special committee. No unfavorable de velopments so far. Acting Secretary Bacon to Minister Dawson. DAWSON. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 26, 1909. On 24th instant Senate approved treaty with Colombia without change and treaty with Panama with understanding no questions shall be submitted to arbitration affecting vital interests of United States in construction, operation, maintenance, sanitation, and protection of canal. BACON. No. 241.] Minister Dawson to Secretary Root. SECRETARY OF STATE, Washington, D. C. AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogota, February 26, 1909. SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of the exposition of the minister for foreign affairs accompanying the recent Panama and United States treaties, together with a translation thereof. The translation I was not able to complete in time to go with my No. 240, of February 24 last.1 A full translation is sent of this very long document, not only because of its intrinsic importance, but because between its lines is shown better than I have ever seen it the real state of opinion in Colombia in regard to the United States and the secession of Panama. I also desire to call especial attention to pages 9 and 10 thereof, containing words appreciative of Mr. Root. I have the honor to be, sir, Your obedient servant, [Inclosure 2 in No. 241.-Translation.] Presidential message. T. C. DAWSON. Honorable Members of the National Constituent and Legislative Assembly: The minister for foreign affairs will submit to your consideration the treaties signed at Washington on January 9 last by our minister, Enrique Cortés, and the plenipotentiaries of the United States and Panama, Elihu Root and Carlos Constantino Arosemena. Rightly viewed, this important and delicate negotiation was begun in Washington by the diplomatic note addressed on December 23, 1903, to John Hay, Secretary of State, by the mission which I had the honor of presiding over, and whose members were Jorge Holguín, Pedro Nel Ospina, and Lucas Caballero. By the celebration of these treaties our legation in Washington has carried into effect the instructions given it by the Government through the various ministers who have had charge of the portfolio of foreign relations during the present administration, and it is just to recognize the patriotism and intelligence with which our present minister to the United States, Enrique Cortés, has conducted the negotiations and brought them to a happy termination. I cherish the hope that when the Colombian people become familiar with their contents they will give a decisive verdict in their favor, since in making them the executive has taken into account not only the interests and needs of the people but also their commands. In fact, the junta of commissioners of commerce, agriculture, and industry of the Departments, which met in Bogota in the month of July, 1906, to deal with economic subjects, at that time of great importance, and whose members belonged to all political parties, and 1 Not printed; unimportant. |