COLON, November 5, 1903. All Colombian soldiers at Colon now, 7 p. m., going on board Royal Mail steamer returning to Cartagena. Vessel, supposed to be Dixie, in sight. MALMROS. Mr. Malmros to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.] COLON, November 6, 1903. Tranquillity absolute in Colon. Porfirio Melendez appointed governor of this province. Proclaimed Republic of Panama at Colon prefectura at 10 o'clock a. m. English and French consuls present. I arrived after proclamation, and upon my suggestion I told governor that presence of consuls must not be looked upon as recognition of revolutionary state by their respective Governments. Melendez sent steam launch to Bocas del Toro to proclaim independence. MALMROS. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PANAMA GOVERNMENT. [Telegram.-Translation.] SECRETARY OF STATE, Washington: PANAMA, November 4, 1903. We take the liberty of bringing to the knowledge of your Govern ment that on yesterday afternoon, in consequence of a popular and spontaneous movement of the people of this city, the independence of the Isthmus was proclaimed and, the Republic of Panama being instituted, its provisional government organizes an (executive) board consisting of ourselves, who are assured of the military strength necessary to carry out our determination. JOSÉ A. ARANGO. [Telegram.-Translation.] PANAMA, November 4, 1903. To His Excellency the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, Washington: The municipality of Panama is now (10 p. m.) holding a solemn session, and joins in the movement of separation of the Isthmus of Panama from the rest of Colombia. It hopes for recognition of our cause by your Government. DEMETRO S. BRIDA. [Telegram.-Translation.] PANAMA, November 5, 1903. (Received 8.48 p. m.) SECRETARY OF STATE, Washington: We notify you that we have appointed Señor Philippe Bunau-Varilla confidential agent of the Republic of Panama near your Government and Dr. Francisco V. de la Espriella minister of foreign affairs. Colon and all the towns of the Isthmus have adhered to the declaration of independence proclaimed in this city. The authority of the Republic of Panama is obeyed throughout its territory. ARANGO. ARIAS. BOYD. [Telegram.-Translation.] SECRETARY OF STATE, Washington: PANAMA, November 6, 1903. The board of provisional government of the Republic of Panama has appointed Señor Philippe Bunau Varilla envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary near your Government with full powers to conduct diplomatic and financial negotiations. Deign to receive and heed him. J. M. ARANGO, Foreign Relations. [Telegram.-Translation.] NEW YORK, November 7, 1903. His Excellency JOHN HAY, Secretary of State: I have the privilege and the honor of notifying you that the Government of the Republic of Panama have been pleased to designate me as its envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary near the Government of the United States. In selecting for its first representative at Washington a veteran servant and champion of the Panama Canal, my Government has evidently sought to show that it considers a loyal and earnest devotion to the success of that most heroic conception of human genius as both a solemn duty and the essential purpose of its existence. I congratulate myself, sir, that my first official duty should be to respectfully request you to convey to His Excellency the President of the United States, on behalf of the people of Panama, an expression of the grateful sense of their obligation to his Government. In extending her generous hand so spontaneously to her latest born, the Mother of the American Nations is prosecuting her noble mission as the liberator and the educator of the peoples. In spreading her protecting wings over the territory of our Republic the American Eagle has sanctified it. It has rescued it from the barbarism of unnecessary and wasteful civil wars to consecrate it to the destiny assigned to it by Providence, the service of humanity, and the progress of civilization. PHILIPPE BUNAU VARILLA. CORRESPONDENCE Confidential.] BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND THE UNITED STATES LEGATION AT BOGOTÁ. Mr. Beaupré to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.] BOGOTÁ, November 4, 1903-5 p. m. (Received 6th, 5 p. m.) I have been shown telegram from reliable source in Panama to the effect that Isthmus is preparing for secession and that proclamation of independence may be expected soon. The particulars carefully guarded. Reliable information hard to obtain. This Government is evidently alarmed and troops are being sent to Isthmus. Repeat telegrams of importance from United States consul-general. His telegrams to me may be interfered with. BEAUPRÉ. Mr. Hay to Mr. Beaupré. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 6, 1903. The people of Panama having by an apparently unanimous movement dissolved their political connection with the Republic of Colom bia and resumed their independence, and having adopted a government of their own-republican in form-with which the Government of the United States of America has entered into relations, the President of the United States, in accordance with the ties of friendship which have so long and so happily existed between the respective nations, most earnestly commends to the Governments of Colombia and of Panama the peaceful and equitable settlement of all questions at issue between them. He holds that he is bound not merely by treaty obligations but by the interests of civilization to see that the peaceful traffic of the world across the Isthmus of Panama shall not longer be disturbed by a constant succession of unnecessary and wasteful civil wars. HAY. Mr. Beaupré to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.] BOGOTÁ, November 6, 1903-6 p. m. (Received 8th, 11.05 p. m.) Knowing that the revolution has already commenced in Panama, General Reyes says that if the Government of the United States will land troops to preserve Colombian sovereignty, and the transit, if requested by the Colombian chargé d'affaires, this Government will declare martial law, and by virtue of vested constitutional authority, when public order is disturbed, will approve by decree the ratification of the canal treaty as signed; or, if the Government of the United States prefers, will call extra session of Congress with new and friendly members next May to approve the treaty. General Reyes has the perfect confidence of Vice President, he says, and if it becomes necessary will go to the Isthmus or send representatives there to adjust matters along above lines to the satisfaction of the people there. If he goes he would like to act in harmony with the commander of the United States forces. This is the personal opinion of Reyes, and he will advise this Government to act accordingly. There is a great reaction of public opinion in favor of the treaty, and it is considered certain that the treaty was not legally rejected by Congress. To-morrow martial law will be declared; 1,000 troops will be sent from the Pacific side; about the same number from the Atlantic side. Please answer by telegraph. BEAUPRÉ. Mr. Beaupré to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.] BOGOTÁ, November 7, 1903—2 p. m. (Received 10th, 7.30 p. m.) General Reyes leaves next Monday for Panama, invested with full powers. He has telegraphed chiefs of the insurrection that his mission is to the interests of Isthmus. He wishes answer from you, before leaving, to the inquiry in my telegram of yesterday, and wishes to know if the American commander will be ordered to cooperate with him and with new Panama Government to arrange peace and the FR 1903-16 approval of canal treaty, which will be accepted on condition that the integrity of Colombia be preserved. He has telegraphed President of Mexico to ask the Government of the United States and all the countries represented at the Pan-American conference to aid Colombia to preserve her integrity. The question of the approval of the treaty mentioned in my telegram of yesterday will be arranged in Panama. He asks that before taking definite action you will await his arrival there, and that the Government of the United States in the meantime preserve the neutrality and transit of the Isthmus and do not recognize the new Government. Great excitement here. Martial law has been declared in the Cauca and Panama. Answer. BEAUPRÉ. Mr. Beaupré to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.] BOGOTÁ, November 7, 1903-6 p. m. (Received 10th, 7.55 p. m.) As the Government of the United States has war vessels at Panama and Colon, minister for foreign affairs has requested me to ask, Will you allow Colombian Government to land troops at those ports to fight there and on the line of railway? Also if the Government of the United States will take action to maintain Colombian right and sovereignty on the Isthmus in accordance with article 35, the treaty of 1846, in case the Colombian Government is entirely unable to suppress the secession movement there? I am entirely unable to elicit from minister for foreign affairs confirmation of the promises made by Reyes. Mr. Beaupré to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.] BEAUPRÉ. BOGOTÁ, November 9, 1903-9 a. m. I am desired to inform you by General Reyes that Gen. Bedronel Ospina and Lucas Cabellero, prominent party leaders, accompany him on his mission. Very great excitement here. Large crowds paraded streets yesterday, crying "Down with Marroquin." Mass meeting denounced him; called for a change of government. Hundreds gathered at the palace, and their orator, a prominent national general, addressed the President, calling for his resignation. Troops dispersed gathering, wounding several. Martial law is declared here, and the city is being guarded by soldiers. Legation of the United States under strong guard, but apparently no indications of hostile demonstration. The residence of Lorenzo Marroquin attacked with stones. Referring to the questions presented by minister for foreign affairs in my telegram of 7th, I have preserved silence, but bear in mind page 578, Foreign Relations, part 3, 1866, and instructions 134 to minister to the United States of Colombia, 1865. BEAUPRÉ. |