No. 182.
Mr. Scruggs to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Bogota, June 17, 1874.
(Received July 14.)
No. 39.]
Sir: I have by this mail transmitted to the
Department the annual report of the Colombian secretary of foreign affairs
to the congress of
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this country,
for the year ending April, 1874. The portion allotted to the discussion of
the relations between Colombia and the United States will be found on page
83, paragraph 6, and from thence to page 85 inclusive. A translation of this
portion of the report is inclosed herewith.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Extract from the report of the Colombian minister
for foreign affairs, of February, 1874.
The Montejo question, of which I treated at due length in article 84 of
my former memorial, and which I there said that, being the only one that
had remained pending between the United States of America and those of
Colombia, appeared terminated also, judging by the continued silence
with respect to it preserved by the North American Government, is still
continued. That Government had not abandoned it, as I was led to
believe, but had reserved to itself the right to resume the prosecution
of the discussion through the medium of a new minister, whom it proposed
to send to fill the vacancy left by Mr. Hurlbut. The new minister came,
or did come, and, on the 24th day of July, 1873, presented his
credentials to the President of the Union, in public audience. He is the
honorable William L. Scruggs, a person, in all respects, of the highest
esteem. His courteous character has made easy and not vexatious
(offensive) a discussion so delicate and unpleasant (ungrateful) as that
which has its origin in the impressment (capture) and occupation
(detention) of said ship by revolutionists; and, although no conclusion
satisfactory to both parties had been arrived at, he at once entertained
the proposition which I had just made him—seeing that we were unable to
adjust differences after along conference—to submit the point to the
decision of arbitrators. But, as he wanted instructions, in order to a
formal acceptance of the proposition, he had asked for and was awaiting
them. He is now absent, and upon his return or before, (his return,) he
will be in readiness to give his definite answer.
Extract from report of Colombian minister of foreign
affairs to Congress, February, 1874.
[Translation.]
With the view of commemorating, on its centennial, the Declaration of
Independence of the United States of North America, there is now being
prepared by that Government the celebration of one of those universal
assemblies of science and industry that form one of the marks by which
our epoch is honorably distinguished.
In effect, the President of that nation has declared and made known, by
means of a proclamation issued the 3d of July last, that in the city of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, there will be held an international
exhibition of arts, manufactures, and agricultural and mineral products,
which will be opened on the 1st of April, 1876, and closed the 1st of
October of the same year; and, in the same document, in the interests of
peace and of friendship and domestic and international relations, he
incites the people of the United States to celebrate the exhibition, and
invites all nations, in the name of the North American Government and
people, to take part in such festival.
The (Señor) minister resident of that Government addressed himself to me,
by a note of the 28th of August last past, with the object of
transmitting to ours a copy of the said proclamation, and also of
manifesting to it his hope that, the matter being taken into
consideration here, it might be considered convenient to call the
attention of the Colombian people as well to the exposition as to its
object, commencing thus to excite their co-operation therein, and with
the purpose of manifesting also that the President of the North American
Union hoped that, with the opportunity which the exhibition will offer
for the cultivation of sentiments and intercourse between the two
countries would redound in new and even greater benefits to science and
industry, and would serve equally to strengthen the bonds of peace and
friendship which now happily exist between the government and people of
Colombia and the Government and people of the United States; and the
(señor) minister added that he would be pleased to be informed, as soon
as might be convenient, whether the government of Colombia proposed to
create a commission to represent this republic in the exposition and
have the care of Colombian interests that might occupy a place there. I
answered the honorable Mr. Scruggs that the executive power would inform
the national Congress of the
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magnificent project of the exposition, as well as of the polite
invitation of the President of the United States, in order that that
body might dictate the necessary provisions for Colombia’s participation
in that festival of liberty and of the intelligent labor of the entire
world—a participation which should correspond to the influence which the
transcendental act to be commemorated has exercised over our country
itself; which should symbolize the veneration which we profess for the
men who signed and heroically sustained the Declaration of Independence,
and that might be a pledge worthy of the unalterable friendship which
has existed, and always should exist, between the nations.
A translation of the proclamation, and also of the (señor) minister’s
note, are found together with my answer, among the documents of this
memorial, (report,) under the letter I.
