No. 206.
Mr. Dichman to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
Bogotá, July 13, 1880.
(Received August 20.)
No. 185.]
Sir: After all the reports which have been
circulated about the unfriendly attitude of the Government of Colombia
towards the United States, it will undoubtedly be gratifying to you to learn
that in the celebration of the Fourth of July at this capital the Colombian
Government took an unusual interest.
The President of this Republic sent a military band of music to play at the
legation during the hours of a reception, which took place from 12 to 6
p.m., and during these hours the legation was visited by all the
representatives of foreign governments at this capital, the archbishop and
other dignitaries of the Catholic Church, the foreign consuls, members of
the government, and many prominent citizens. The public buildings and
legations had their flags displayed, and at noon a national salute of
twenty-one guns was fired in volleys by the entire garrison of Bogota,
consisting of three battalions of infantry and one battery of artillery,
which for that purpose had been drawn up in the principal public square of
the city.
On the following day, the 5th instant, the Colombian senate adopted a
resolution in honor of the anniversary of American independence.
This resolution was communicated to me officially by the secretary of foreign
relations under date of the 9th of July. For a copy of his communication, as
well as my answer, I beg to refer to the inclosures with this dispatch.
On the 6th of this month I paid a visit to President Nuñez, for the purpose
of expressing my high appreciation of the acts of courtesy shown by his
government in honor of the United States on the Fourth of July. During the
interview, which was of the most pleasant nature, President Nunez expressed
great admiration for the United States, and the hope that all questions
between the two governments would be amicably adjusted.
* * * * * * *
I am, &c.,
[Page 325]
[Inclosure 1 in No.
185.—Translation.]
Señor Rico to Mr.
Dichman.
United
States of Colombia,
Department of Foreign
Relations,
Bogotá, July 9,
1880.
Sir: The senate of plenipotentiaries of the
republic, during the session of the 5th instant, adopted the following
resolution:
“The senate of plenipotentiaries of the United States of Colombia
commemorates with patriotic exultation the grand political movement
which was celebrated by the sons of the great North American republic on
yesterday, and believes it to be its duty to enter this fact upon the
records of the session to-day.”
I have the honor to communicate the same to you, in order that you may be
pleased to make the illustrious Government of North America acquainted
therewith.
With all consideration, I subscribe myself, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 185.]
Mr. Dichman to
Señor Rico.
Legation of the United States,
Bogotá, July 11,
1880.
Sir: It is with great pleasure that I hasten to
acknowledge your note of the 9th instant, in which you are pleased to
communicate a copy of a resolution passed by the senate of
plenipotentiaries of the United States of Colombia, on the 5th of this
month, in which that honorable body expresses its patriotic joy at the
occurrence of the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the
United States, and makes entry thereof upon the records of that day’s
session.
Permit me to avail myself of your kind offices, by requesting you to
inform the honorable senate of plenipotentiaries of the United States of
Colombia that I shall bring this act of courtesy on their part
immediately to the notice of my government, and to convey to them in
advance my assurances of the high appreciation with which it will be
acknowledged in the United States.
I also beg to ask you to convey to his Excellency the President of the
United States of Colombia my thanks for the courtesies and honors shown
to me as the representative of the Government of the United States on
the 4th instant, and to assure him that in my reports to Washington I
shall not fail to make particular mention of the unusual compliment of
the national salute of twenty-one guns which was fired by the orders of
his Excellency in honor of the day and of the United States.
With the renewed assurance of my high consideration,
I am, &c.,
