[Extract.]
Mr. Burton to Mr.
Seward
No. 271.]
Legation of the United States,
Bogota, September 11, 1866.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose the annexed
correspondence relating to the alleged wrongful landing of armed United
States marines in the city of Panama on the 15th of July last.
I have learned from an unofficial source that the affair is greatly
magnified by the Colombian government; that it originated in the naval
officers mistaking rockets sent up in the city by the populace on a
holy-day, for the signs agreed upon by the United States consul, naval
officers, and Panama railroad for the landing of forces to protect
American citizens and property. To ascertain this fact was probably the
object of the secretary in attempting, in the conclusion of his note A,
to prescribe to me the manner in which I should proceed in my
investigation of the case.
* * * * * * * * *
On receiving the secretary’s note I obtained a formal conference on the
subject, in which I assured him that the case would be inquired into,
and such measures
[Page 569]
taken as the
result might require. I took occasion to say to him that while the
government of the United States would be always ready to perform its
duties to other nations, it was but just that it should expect the same
from them, and that I was constrained to say that Colombia had for some
time past been inexcusably at fault in this respect by failing to hear
the reclamations for wrongs to American citizens to which I had been
calling attention for the last three years. That unless the legation in
my charge could be listened to in a spirit of prompt, friendly justice,
it was, in my opinion, useless to maintain it here, and that I should so
report to my government.
* * * * * * * *
He acknowledged the justice of what I had said, and promised that all
should be attended to at the earliest possible day.
* * * * *
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William II. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington,
D. C.
[Translation.]
Señor Morro to Mr. Burton
The undersigned, chief officer in charge of the department of the
interior and foreign relations, has been ordered by the President of
the United States of Colombia to put within the knowledge of the
honorable Allan A. Burton, minister resident of the United States of
America, an act violatory of the sovereignty of Colombia, committed
by the chief of the United States war marine stationed in the bay of
Panama. On the night of the 15th of July, without the least cause,
and while the inhabitants of Panama were in their houses, a hundred
armed men disembarked in the city, and the vessel of war armed with
cannons came to the gates and wharves of the plaza. At daylight they
retired again to their vessels.
The American government, which with so much justice and energy could
reprove the conduct of Captain McDearmid and the American consul at
Cathagena for an act much less grave than that of occupying a city
with forces, will also do justice in this instance by disapproving
the act of entering on the territory of a friendly nation and ally
of the American Union, for the maintenance of the neutrality and
sovereignty of the isthmus of Panama, where the violation has just
been committed.
The President of the United States of Colombia, in directing the
undersigned to make this communication to the honorable Mr. Burton,
does not doubt that the minister will make the same known to his
government, and that of Colombia would desire that the minister
should ask of the American consul in Panama the particulars and
causes of this outrage on the sovereignty of Colombia, and that they
be transmitted to his government and to this legation, that the
President may know the reasons the chief of the American naval
forces may have had for his conduct.
The undersigned improves this opportunity to reiterate to the
honorable Mr. Burton the assurances of the particular esteem with
which he has the honor to subscribe himself his very attentive,
obedient servant,
Hon. Allan A. Burton, Minister Resident of the United States of America,
&c., &
c., & c.
B.
Mr. Burton to Señor Morro
The minister resident of the United States of America has the honor
to present his compliments to his excellency Señor M. Morro, acting
secretary of the interior and foreign relations of the United States
of Colombia, and will thank his excellency for a conference at such
time as may be convenient, concerning the alleged conduct of the
United States naval commander at Panama on the 15th of July last,
complained of in a note from the department dated August, 1866,
received at this legation on yesterday.
[Page 570]
C.
[Translation.]
Señor Morro to Mr. Burton
Manuel Morro, first officer charged, with the department of the
secretary of the interior and foreign relations of the United States
of Colombia, is pleased to salute attentively the honorable Mr.
Allan A. Burton, minister resident of the United States of America,
and to inform him that to-morrow at 11 o’clock he will be received
with much pleasure in the parlor of the department for the purpose
indicated by the honorable Señor Burton in his attentive verbal note
of to-day’s date.
D.
Mr. Burton to Señor Morro
Legation of the United States of
America, Bogota,
August 24,
1866.
The undersigned, minister resident of the United States of America,
has learned with regret by the communication which his excellency
Señor M. Morro, acting secretary of the interior and foreign
relations of the United States of Colombia, was pleased to address
him under date of August, 1866, that the Colombian government should
have believed that it had cause to complain of a want of respect to
the sovereignty of the republic in the alleged landing of armed
marines of the United States in Panama on the 15th of July last.
The absence of any report to this legation from the agents of the
United States on the isthmus, concerning the occurrence complained
of, induces the undersigned to hope, indeed to believe, that an
inquiry into the whole facts of the case, which he will not fail to
make, will show it to have been much less grave in its character
than his excellency’s government has been led to suppose.
Be the result of the inquiry, however, what it may, it is gratifying
to the undersigned to know that the Colombian government has
anticipated with entire justice the spirit in which the complaint
will be received by that of the United States.
The undersigned improves this opportunity to repeat to his excellency
the assurances of his high consideration.
His Excellency Señor M. Morro, Acting Secretary of the Interior and Foreign
Relations, &c., & c., & c.
E.
Mr. Burton to Mr. Little
No. 6.]
Legation of the United
States, Bogota,
August 25,
1866.
Sir: I enclose for your information the
accompanying copy of a communication, addressed me under date of
August, 1866, by his excellency the acting secretary of the interior
and foreign relations of Colombia, complaining of certain alleged
proceedings by United States marines in Panama on the 15th of July
last. I will thank you to inquire into the facts of the case and to
report the result of your inquiries to the Department of State and
to this legation.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
William B. Little, Esq., United States Consul,
Panama.
