PART IV-a. LIST OF PAPERS RELATING TO THE NEGOTIATION OF THE TRIPARTITE TREATIES OF JANUARY, 1909. 1904. From American legation at Bogota, December 20. To same, January 9. 1905. From same, January 13. No. 17. From same, May 8. Telegram. From Colombian minister at Washington, October 21. Not included. (Printed S. Doc. No. 542, 2d sess., 60th Cong.)1 1906. To same, February 2. Not included. Printed in above document. From same May 23. From same, June 12. Telegram. From same, June 13. From same, June 13. No. 103. To same, June 14. Telegram. From Colombian minister at Washington, July 2. From American legation at Bogota, July 14. Telegram. To American legation at Bogota, July 2. No. 27. Memorandum signed by Mr. Vasquez Cobo, and handed to Mr. Root, September 20. From American legation at Bogota, August 20. Not included. (Pritend S. Doc., No. 542, 60th Cong., 2d sess.) Memorandum (confidential) from legation of Colombia at Washington, November 8, 1906. 1907. From Colombian legation, January 3. From same, March 4. From same, March 7. Personal note to Mr. Buchanan. To same, April 24. From same, April 25. From same, May 10. Substance. (At this point there were numerous oral conferences between Mr. Taft, Mr. Cortes, the Colombian minister, and Mr. Cromwell, etc.) 1 See No. 16, Appendix. Protocol for a treaty between Colombia and Panama, signed August 17, by Minister Cortes, for Colombia; by Mr. Arango, for Panama; and approved by William H. Taft, for the United States (by direction of the President). Protocol of same date, for a treaty between the United States and Panama, signed by W. H. Taft and Mr. Arango. From Colombian minister at Washington, August 18. To same, August 26. Substance. From same, December 5. To same, December 17. From same, December 20. No. 277. From same, December 28. From same, January 26. To same, January 28. 1908. From Colombian minister, March 12. From Secretary of State to London and County Banking Co. (Ltd.), March 17. To Colombian minister, March 17. From same, March 31. To Colombian minister. April 9. From American legation at Bogota, October 6. No. 174. To Colombian minister. December 29. To same, December 30. From same. December 31. To same. January 1. 1909. From same, January 10. Substance. To the President. January 11 (submitting the tripartite treaties for the Senate, printed Ex. N., 60th Cong., 2d sess.) Not included. From President of Colombia to Colombian minister at Washington, January 12. Telegram. From American legation at Bogota, January 13. From American legation at Panama, January 30. From Panama minister, January 31. To American legation at Bogota, telegram, February 9. From same. February 12. From same. February 14. Telegram. From same. telegram, March 10. From Colombian minister. March 16. From American legation at Bogota, March 16. Telegram. From same, March 18. Telegram. To Colombian minister, March 22. No. 82. From American legation at Bogota, March 23. From Colombian legation, March 24. No. 62. From American legation at Bogota, March 26. Telegram. From same, March 29. No. 247. Edited. To same, April 6. To same, April 19. No. 87. To same, May 4. No. 89. From same, May 10. From same, May 12. From same, May 13. Telegram. No. 268. To same, June 11. Telegram. From same, June 17. No. 508. From American legation at Bogota, September 29. Telegram. From same, October 1. No. 12. 1910. From same, January 5. Telegram. PAPERS SUBMITTED RELATING TO THE TRIPARTITE TREATIES. Minister Russell to Secretary Hay. [Extracts.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogotá, December 20, 1904. SIR: I have the honor to report that up to the present my relations, official and otherwise, with the Colombian Government have been quite cordial. The feeling against our Government in official circles growing out of the Panama incident is gradually disappearing, due I think, to the hope that some negotiations can be effected with the United States Government by which Colombia in accepting the "fait accompli" will appear to her people and the world as not having lost any of her national dignity. I have had several long talks with the minister of foreign affairs, and he has intimated that it would probably be the best thing for his country to recognize the Republic of Panama and accept the situation, provided that Colombia could, by means of commercial treaties and conventions with the United States and Panama, obtain some of the advantages that she had expected from the construction of the canal on her territory. * * * * * The Government has informed me that it is its intention to send a minister to Washington very soon. I am convinced that the only thing necessary to bring about cordial relations with this country and restore American prestige would be some sort of a treaty arrangement with the United States and Panama by which Colombia could obtain in this usual and ordinary way some of the advantages she has lost by a policy the consequences of which she did not realize until too late, and which national pride, influenced considerably by an antiAmerican political minority, prevents her from disavowing too openly at present. I am sir, with great respect, Your obedient servant, WILLIAM W. RUSSELL. The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Russell. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 9, 1905. The Government of Panama having been thoroughly established and recognized by the civilized nations of the world, it is not now regarded as competent to submit the question of its independence to a plebescite. The President will be pleased if Colombia will celebrate with Panama a treaty of friendship, commerce, and navigation; also if Colombia were to arrange to settle all questions not disposed of in said treaty with Panama by means of arbitration. No. 17.] Minister Russell to Secretary Hay. AMERICAN LEGATION, LOOMIS. Bogota, January 13, 1905. SIR: Referring to your cipher telegram of the 9th instant, which is confirmed in a separate dispatch, I have the honor to state that I have just had a long conference with the President, during which I showed him a copy of your cable. I asked Gen. Reyes to kindly tell me exactly what he would like me to say to my Government, and his reply was as follows: You can say, Mr. Russell, that I have urged with some persistency this question of a plebiscite to decide the question as to Panama's independence, because his excellency the Secretary of State suggested it to me in a memorandum. We all know in Colombia that Panama will ratify her action of November 3, 1903; but, as a mere matter of form and a salve to the national honor, a decision by plebiscite will pave the way to a definite and final understanding between all the nations concerned. It can make not a particle of difference to the United States, but to Colombians and to me especially in the present state of public feeling it will be the most important step in the policy of reconciliation and good feeling which I am earnestly endeavoring to pursue. The President requested me to inform you that in February he is going to call a convention to ratify all his decrees for the relief of the country which Congress failed to pass, reform the constitution in regard to the Vice Presidency, and to ratify this proposed arrangement in regard to Panama. The President also requested me to say to you that the congressmen arrested some time ago were all prominent members of the opposition to the Hay-Herran treaty. I am, sir, with great respect, Your obedient servant, WILLIAM W. RUSSELL. Minister Russell to Secretary Hay. Strictly confidential.] [Telegram.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogota, May 8, 1905. Government of the United States of Colombia is sending a confidential agent to confer with the President of the Republic of Panama, and this agent will reach Panama about the 26th. Same agent is coming to Washington afterwards to communicate with Colombian minister there. Government of United States of Colombia has requested me to ask that the American minister to Panama be informed of this, and that he be requested to use his good offices to aid the agent of Colombia in effecting arrangement with the Republic of Panama. RUSSELL. |