6. That, furthermore, in view of such acceptance by me of a settlement without any payment in cash, it was agreed by the minister of foreign affairs that orders would be given to the respective departments that the previous obligations of the government for the payment of certain sums monthly to the company for delayed subvention bonds and balance outstanding for current and past services be faithfully continued or resumed in accordance with the terms of such previous agreements. With due apologies for the length of this letter and hoping that you will comply with my request by a letter confirmatory of the above record of simple but important facts, I have, etc., J. T. FORD, Legal Representative C. T. I. Co., C. M. Rwy. Co. and Cia. F. de C. Chargé Snyder to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, (Mr. Snyder reports that a decree has been issued by the Government of Colombia prohibiting the receipt in custom-houses of vales extranjeros, which practically annuls the claims of citizens of the United States.) No. 78.] Chargé Snyder to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogotá, August 3, 1905. SIR: Referring to my telegram of July 11, 1905, regarding the decree of the Colombian Government refusing to further receive the_vales de extranjeros in the custom-houses of the Republic, I have the honor to inform you that owing to the representations of this and the other interested legations said decree, in as far as it concerned the payment of vales and railroad exemption bonds, was revoked on the 26th of July by resolution No. 27 of the ministry of hacienda. The matter, therefore, remains satisfactorily adjusted. I am, etc., I have the honor to inform you that in the past week, largely due to the personal efforts of the minister for foreign affairs, all matters at issue between the Cartagena companies and the Colombian Government were finally settled. While the decree of the minister of finance regarding the nonreceipt of the vales de extranjeros was revoked, as reported in my No. 78 of August 3, 1905, many inconveniences were put in the way of these companies by the customs officials of Cartagena and Barranquilla until an explicit order was sent from the ministry for foreign affairs that they cease. Likewise, on the 7th instant, the last payment, then two months past due, was made by the government on the contract entered into about a year ago between said companies and the Colombian Government, through this legation, for the payment, in monthly installments, of the sum of $50,000, due said companies for services rendered the government during the last revolution. I am, etc., ALBAN G. SNYDER. PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS BY THE COLOMBIAN MINISTER. The Colombian Minister to Acting Secretary of State Loomis. [Translation.] LEGATION OF COLOMBIA, The chargé d'affaires ad interim presents his compliments to the Assistant Secretary of State in charge of the Department and has the honor to inclose a copy of the address which Dr. Diego Mendoza will have the honor to deliver upon his presentation to the President of the Republic. [Inclosure. Translation.] MR. PRESIDENT: I have the honor to place in Your Excellency's hands the letter of the President of the Republic of Colombia, which accredits me as his envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. The circumstances under which it has devolved upon me to come and discharge near your government the duties of the mission with which I am intrusted will not offer insuperable obstacles to the settlement of the questions pending between the two countries, in reliance on Your Excellency's amicable and justice-loving cooperation and the sentiments of mutual friendship which unite the people of Colombia to the people of the United States. I am glad to convey to Your Excellency on this occasion the wishes of the President of Colombia for your personal happiness and the prosperity of your country. And with the hope that my acts will be received with good will by your government, I commend myself, most Excellent Sir, to the hospitality of the United States. No. 1.] The Acting Secretary of State to the Colombian Minister. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 29, 1905. SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith for your use a copy of the President's reply to the remarks made by you this afternoon on the occasion of the presentation of your letters of credence as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Colombia near this government. Accept, etc., F. B. LOOMIS. [Inclosure.] MR. MINISTER: I am glad to welcome you to Washington and to receive from your hands the letters whereby you are accredited to this government in the quality of envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from Colombia. The United States has no other wish than to cultivate and maintain with Colombia the most cordial relations and to conduct its intercourse with that country with equity and justice; and I know of no existing circumstances that could affect my sincere desire to preserve and increase in all honorable ways the friendship and good understanding between the two governments and peoples. I count, Mr. Minister, on your cooperation to this end. I beg that you will convey to President Reyes an expression of my thanks for his courteous message and assure him of my best wishes for his personal welfare and the happiness and prosperity of the Colombian people. No. 61.] MURDER OF JOSEFF OTTO IN COLOMBIA. Charge Snyder to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogotá, June 29, 1905. SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith copy and translation of a telegram just received by me in reference to the murder of one Joseff Otto, American citizen, in the town of Segovia, Colombia, together with copy of my note to the minister of foreign affairs on the subject. I am, etc., [Inclosure.] ALBAN G. SNYDER. Chargé Snyder to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogotá, June 29, 1905. MR. MINISTER: I have the honor to inform your excellency that the following telegram was received by me last night, June 28: SEGOVIA, June 13, Mr. Joseff Otto, American citizen, was murdered on the 11th of this month. He was married less than a month and left properties and pending business. I advise you for legal effects. Please acknowledge receipt. VESPASIANO ZEA J., Alcalde. The Federal government is hereby respectfully requested to make a full investigation of this homicide and to use its influence and authority to effect the immediate apprehension of the guilty person or persons and an early and just trial, and, further, that this legation be fully informed of all the circumstances of the occurrence and the steps taken by the authorities. I take, etc., No. 62.] Chargé Snyder to the Secretary of State. ALBAN G. SNYDER. AMERICAN LEGATION, SIR: Referring to my No. 61 of June 29, 1905, I have the honor to send you herewith copy and translation of a note received from the minister for foreign affairs in answer to my note of June 29, 1905. I am, sir, etc., ALBAN G. SNYDER. [Inclosure. Translation.] The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Chargé Snyder. REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA, MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Bogotá, June 30, 1905. SIR: In your note of the 29th of this month your honor has seen fit to transmit to me a telegram from the alcalde of Segovia, Department of Antioquia, informing you that Joseff Otto, citizen of the United States, was murdered on the 11th of said month. By telegram of this date the government of Antioquia has been ordered to take summary measures, if they have not already been taken, against those responsible for the crime, and that the necessary measures be taken in accordance with the law and consular convention between this Republic and the United States, to place in security the effects left by the deceased; and that information .be given to this office of all the circumstances of the case in order that they may be forwarded to your honor. I improve, etc., No. 31.] CLIMACO CALDERÓN. The Acting Secretary of State to Chargé Snyder. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 11, 1905. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 62 of July 4 last, reporting the murder of an American citizen, Joseff Otto, in the Department of Antioquia. In reply I have to say that the Department is gratified to see that the Colombian Government is taking appropriate measures to secure the apprehension of the perpetrators. The report of the circumstances of the case is awaited by the Department. I am, etc., No. 82.] F. B. LOOMIS. Chargé Snyder to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN LEGATION, SIR: Referring to my No. 61 of June 29, 1905, I have the honor to transmit herewith copy and translation of a note received from the minister for foreign affairs relative to the murder of Joseff Otto. I am, etc., [Inclosure. Translation.] ALBAN G. SNYDER. The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Chargé Snyder. REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA, MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Bogotá, July 24, 1905. SIR: Referring for the second time to your note of June 29 last, I inform your legation of the following dispatch received by telegraph from the governor of the Department of Antioquia: “MEDELLIN, July 17, 1905. "MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Relative to the murder of the foreigner, Joseff Otto, I transmit the following telegram: "Official. Segovia, July 10, 1905. Prefect, Santa Rosa. On the night of June 11 past, Victor Alvarez shot Mr. Otto, causing instant death. Instructions immediately sent for arrest and transfer Amalfi June 24. Captured immediately and remitted. Property Otto in custody of wife, but not sufficient satisfy creditors. Alcalde. Vespasiano Zea F. Benito Uribe.' I improve, etc., CLÍMACO CALDERÓN. RELATIONS BETWEEN COLOMBIA AND VENEZUELA.-REQUEST FOR THE GOOD OFFICES OF THE UNITED STATES IN ADVOCATING THE PRINCIPLE OF THE FREE NAVIGATION OF RIVERS COMMON TO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. The Colombian Minister to the Secretary of State. [Translation.] LEGATION OF COLOMBIA, Mr. SECRETARY: The minister of foreign relations of Colombia handed to the most excellent Mr. William W. Russell, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States at Bogotá, under date of May 23 last, a memorandum concerning the relations between Colombia and Venezuela, and the navigation of the rivers common to both countries. In that document the minister of foreign relations summarized, with full precision, the history of the commercial relations between Colombia and Venezuela, and presented a clear statement of the present status of the question. From the time when the award which decided the boundary dispute between the two countries, the minister says, the policy of Venezuela in matters relating to the transit trade of Colombia and the navigation of the common rivers has been marked by a conspicuous spirit of hostility toward Colombia, and true it is. To the mind of all those interested in the free navigation of rivers, the attitude of Venezuela is governed by a spirit which is not exactly that which is necessary for the promotion and development of pacific relations among nations. Neither logical arguments nor historic precedents, such as those submitted by the Colombian chancellery to the Government of Venezuela for the recognition by the latter of the principle of free trade over the natural waterways placed by God at the disposal of all nations, have availed. The minister of foreign relations in the above-mentioned memorandum most appropriately recalls the brilliant debate conducted by the Government of the United States against the Governments of Great Britain and Spain in regard to the navigation of the St. Lawrence and Mississippi rivers and the splendid triumph achieved in the cause of universal progress when the principle of free navigation was sanctioned by the treaties that terminated the controversy. I venture to supplement the facts recalled by the minister of foreign relations of Colombia as decisive arguments in favor of the principle that Colombia consecrated years ago by her laws and wished to have consecrated by her international compacts for the mutual advantage of the people of Colombia and of Venezuela, with another precedent that I consider quite fitting and directly applicable to the matter dealt with in this note. In 1851 Mr. J. Randolph Clay, minister of the United States to Peru, concluded a treaty by which Peru granted to citizens of the United States the right to establish steamship lines on the rivers of Peru. That treaty was not approved by the Congress of Peru. The American expedition of Messrs. Herndon and Gibbon, of the Navy of the United States, to explore the Amazon River, induced the Government of Brazil to negotiate with Peru and Bolivia treaties excluding citizens of the United States from the navigation of the Amazon and South American trade, and a treaty was, in fact, drawn |