No. 182.
Mr. Scruggs to Mr. Fish.

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 [Page 358] 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.,

WM. L. SCRUGGS.
[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 [Page 359] 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.