NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA, AND SALVADOR. No. 850.] ABOLITION OF TRIAL BY JURY IN COSTA RICA. Mr. Merry to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: It may be of interest to the Department of State to know that the Congress of Costa Rica, after full and free discussion, has abolished the jury system. In conversation with well-informed citizens of the Republic it appears that the system has so frequently resulted in the perversion of justice that the demand for a change had become almost unanimous. It is freely admitted that trial by jury is generally considered as evidence of a free government, but unless intelligent as well as honest jurors can be obtained a miscarriage of justice generally results. One intelligent official remarked to me that the Latin race lacks the qualities essential for jury duty. Considerations of family, political interest, race and personal prejudice are paramount, and Latin Americans appear too often unable to consider any question on the broad principle of abstract justice. Outside of the few cities in the Republic it has been found impossible to obtain competent juries. One gentleman represented to me that he hoped to see trial by jury reinstated in Costa Rica, but that this can not be done until the working classes are better educated; the present generation must give place to that now attending the primary schools of the Republic. PANAMA. ESTABLISHMENT OF RELATIONS WITH THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA. [For further correspondence relative to establishment of the Republic of Panama see under Colombia.] Messrs. Arango, Boyd, and Arias to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Translation.] PANAMA, November 4, 1903. We take the liberty of bringing to the knowledge of your Government 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. Messrs. Arango; Arias, and Boyd to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Translation.] PANAMA, November 6, 1903. 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. Mr. Loomis to Mr. Buchanan. ARANGO. ARIAS. BOYD. No. 1.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 12, 1903. SIR: The President, desiring to send a special mission to the Republic of Panama, has selected you for the purpose as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary on special mission. I inclose herewith your commission and a letter of credence with office copy. You will forward the office copy to the minister for foreign affairs and will ask for an audience with the members of the FR 1903-44 689 junta of the provisional government of Panama for delivery of the original. Entire confidence is entertained that the mission intrusted to you will be conducted in a manner acceptable to both Governments and conducive to the interests of both countries. I am, etc., FRANCIS B. LOOMIS, Acting Secretary. No. 4.] Mr. Buchanan to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (Special Mission) Panama, December 25, 1903. SIR: I have the honor to advise you of my arrival at Colon on the morning of the 22d. I was met there by Dr. Gonzales Guill, subsecretary for foreign affairs, and Dr. Juan Mendez, private secretary to the junta. A private car was placed at my disposal and every possible courtesy shown me. I reached Panama at noon and was met at the station by the minister for foreign affairs, and by him escorted to the hotel. I transmitted the office copy of my credentials to the minister for foreign affairs with a note, a copy of which I inclose, dated the 23d, and handed to the minister early on the morning of the 24th, together with a second note containing a confidential copy of the remarks I proposed to make upon presenting my letter to the junta. A copy of this note, together with its inclosure, will be found herein. I was notified by the minister for foreign affairs on the 24th that I would be received by the junta to-day at 3 p. m. At that hour I was conducted to the Government house, our carriage passing through two short streets which were lined on both sides with infantry. At the Government house I was awaited by the junta, the cabinet, the supreme court, and all the military officers of high rank in the Republic. My reception was marked by dignity and modest good taste shown by the Government. A military band played the Star Spangled Banner as I entered and when I retired from the Government house. In response to my remarks, Doctor Arango, for the junta, read a reply; a copy and translation you will find herewith. The entire consular corps was present at the reception, with the exception of the Central American consuls and those from Chile and the Argentine. My reception to-day was in every way marked by a dignified, grateful respect and regard for our country, and was therefore very gratifying to me. I have, etc., [Inclosure 1.] WM. I. BUCHANAN. Mr. Buchanan to the minister for foreign affairs. PANAMA, December 23, 1903. SIR: I have the honor to advise your excellency of my designation by the President as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America on special mission to your excellency's Government, and to inclose here with an office copy of the letter I bear from the President accrediting me in such capacity. I beg to request your excellency to be good enough to designate a time at which I may have the honor to present the original to their excellencies the members of the junta of the provisional Government of the Republic of Panama. I have, etc., [Inclosure 2.] WM. 1. BUCHANAN. Mr. Buchanan to the minister for foreign affairs. PANAMA, December 23, 1903. SIR: I beg to inclose for your excellency's information a copy of the remarks I shall have the honor to make to their excellencies the members of the junta of the provisional government upon the occasion of my presenting to their excellencies my letter of credence from the President of the United States. I have, etc [Subinclosure.] WM. I. BUCHANAN. Mr. Buchanan's remarks upon presenting his credentials. I have the honor to present to your excellencies the letter of credence I bear from the President of the United States of America accrediting me as an envoy on special mission to your excellencies' Government. I am deeply sensible of the honor thus conferred upon me by the President and profoundly grateful for the opportunity I am thus afforded to meet your excellencies' people and to study the conditions and possibilities of the Republic of Panama. The advent and the future development and life of this new nation is a subject of keen and kindly interest to the American people, who all wish for your excellencies' people and country that wide progress and advancement which peace, quiet, and economy bring to all countries. I am charged by the President to express to your excellencies his fervent wish that these benefits shall come to the Republic of Panama, and that happiness, contentment, and prosperity may abide with your excellencies' people. [Inclosure 3.-Translation.] Reply of Doctor Arango, on behalf of the junta, to Mr. Buchanan's remarks. SIR: The junta of the provisional government of the Republic of Panama receives from your hands with lively satisfaction the letter of His Excellency the President of the United States of America which accredits you before this new nation as envoy especial of your Government. By this the greatest of the Republics of the continent dignifies its appreciation of the least as an equal with her sister Republics and gives a manifest proof of the high spirit of justice which animates the great people of the North, in whose favor our people extend their best wishes and their best intentions. The junta of the provisional government of the Republic of Panama considers the selection by the United States Government of one who, like yourself, unites in himself such marked personal and public qualities as to enable him to duly appreciate the actual conditions of our country as a high mark of deference. Your presence in our midst will be the means, if that be possible, of more closely linking the two nations together in sincere friendship and accord. Notwithstanding we know that the people of your country are interested in the existence and development of this nation, it has been especially grateful to this junta to hear the fact repeated by the official representative of a people so great, free, and generous. We pray the Almighty that what you have said, the benefits of progress, the advancements from peace and the emoluments of order, the harvest the people of Panama aspire to, might be, if it were possible, as bright as that gathered by your country with marked advantage for humanity. You can assure His Excellency the President of your nation that the Government and people of Panama thank him for his good wishes for this Republic, and that we in return fervently hope that all good may come to his people and to himself. SIR: I have the honor to transmit inclosed a copy of resolutions drawn up by the members of the American West Persian Mission expressing their cordial and grateful appreciation of the services Mr. Cecil G. Wood, the British consul-general at Tabriz, Persia, has, during the time he has held the appointment in that city, rendered to the mission. Having had considerable correspondence with Mr. Wood for the whole of the period he has been in Tabriz, I have had opportunities of knowing his thoughtful attention to and willing cooperation with the missionaries in all that affects their safety and welfare, and therefore beg most respectfully to inclose the expressions contained in these resolutions. I have, etc., JOHN TYLER, [Inclosure.] RESOLUTIONS. Whereas Mr. Cecil G. Wood, His British Majesty's consul-general, has taken leave of absence with the expectation of not returning to Tabriz: Resolved, That we missionaries, citizens of the United States of America, place on record our appreciation of and thanks for the assistance and protection Mr. Wood, as consul-general, has always cordially extended to us. Resolved, That we express our regret at the thought of Mr. and Mrs. Wood leaving Tabriz, and we assure them that our best wishes will follow them wherever they may be assigned. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the legation of the United States of America and to our mission board. Mr. Hay to Mr. Tyler. S. G. WILSON ET AL. No. 17.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 18, 1903. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 28, diplomatic series, dated the 21st ultimo, inclosing a copy of resolutions drawn up by the members of the American West Persian Mission expressing their cordial and grateful appreciation of the services |