No. 195.
Mr. Dichman to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
Bogotá, December 5, 1880.
(Received January 14, 1881.)
No. 232.]
Sir: The Colombian minister at Washington has
probably informed you before this of a circular note addressed by his
government to the governments of the other Spanish-American republics, based
upon article III of the projected treaty between Colombia and Chili,
reported in my No. 205, of the 7th of September last, and having for its
object a meeting of plenipotentiaries of all the Spanish-American states at
Panama in September, 1881, for the purpose of executing with each other an
international treaty or convention, similar to the one executed between
Colombia and Chili, and thus not only establish the principle of
international arbitration for the determination of any differences which may
arise between any of the co-signatory states, as a part of the public law of
this continent, but also provide for the practical application of this
principle by constituting the President of the United States the permanent
arbitrator under the proposed treaty.
On the same subject I am in receipt of a note from the Colombian secretary of
foreign relations, inclosing a copy of the circular note above mentioned,
and requesting me to solicit your good offices with governments of the
several Spanish-American republics to the end that they may be induced to
accept the invitation of the Colombian Government.
Although this action of the administration of President Nuñez in extending
the invitation above mentioned may perhaps be premature, in view of the fact
that the treaty between Colombia and Chili upon which it is based has not
yet been approved and ratified, I nevertheless beg leave to recommend the
solicitation expressed in the accompanying note of the Colombian secretary
of foreign relations to your favorable consideration; for I am sure that the
laudable object of providing for the more harmonious relations between the
republican nations of this continent, and the increased moral influence of
the Government of the United States is a matter in which you are deeply
interested.
The inclosed correspondence does not disclose the fact that a plenipotentiary
from the United States is invited to join in the execution of the proposed
treaty or convention. This is probably owing to the reason that the position
assigned to the Government of the United States by the proposed treaty is to
maintain and exercise a friendly and judicial impartiality in the
differences which may arise between the powers of Spanish America.
I would, however, respectfully recommend that if this proposed meeting of
plenipotentiaries should take place, the Government of the United States be
represented upon the occasion, in order to convey to that body the interest
felt in the United States in its proceedings, and to manifest the
willingness of the President of the United States to accept the trust which
by the proposed treaty it is intended to confer upon him, if such should be
his pleasure.
I am, &c.,
[Page 341]
[Inclosure 1 in No.
232.—Translation.]
Señor Santamaria to
Mr. Dichman.
United
States of Colombia, National Executive Power,
Department
of Foreign Relations,
Cartagena, October 14,
1880.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to inclose to
your honor the circular which, under date of the 11th instant, I have
sent to the republican governments of Spanish America, inviting them to
be represented before my government at Panama in the month of September,
of the coming year, with the object that all of them may give adhesion
to the convention celebrated between Colombia and Chili upon the subject
of the preservation of international peace, which I also inclose to your
honor.
As the reunion of all the representatives of the republics of this part
of the world may, and doubtless will, give an occasion for establishing
the principles of international law, which should rule in the future in
their relations among each other and with the nations of Europe, and as
your honor has demonstrated to me the convenience (apparent from every
point of view) of the reunion of a congress for the indicated object,
for the cause of democracy and the civilization of these peoples, I beg
your honor to have the goodness to interest yourself with the Government
of the United States, to the end that it may use its good relations with
all the others of America, excepting that of Brazil, to induce them to
send their representatives to Panama at the designated time.
The co-operation of the government of your honor will doubtless be of the
greatest efficacy in furthering an object so important for all
America.
With sentiments of most distinguished consideration, I subscribe myself
your honor’s attentive and obedient servant,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
232.—Translation.]
Circular note of Colombia Government.
United
States of Colombia, Department of Foreign
Relations,
Carthagena, October 11,
1880.
Mr. Minister: Adjoined your excellency will
find an authentic copy of the convention celebrated in Bogotà on the 3d
of last September, between the Governments of Colombia and Chili, by
virtue of which the two republics bind themselves to settle in
perpetuity whatever differences or controversies may arise between them
by means of the civilized and humane method of arbitration, and to
obtain by treaty from other sister peoples the celebration of similar
mutual conventions, with the object of forever banishing international
wars from the American continent.
My government, initiator of this measure, considers it of such importance
that it has not wished to lose a single moment in making it known to all
the other governments of America, in order that they may, as soon as
possible, give adhesion to this idea and adopt as an integral and
essential part of American international law the principle incorporated
in the said convention.
Peace is an especial necessity for Spanish America, and there is a
visible anxiety to secure this inestimable boon, and to preserve it from
one extremity to the other of our continent. In effect great efforts are
being made everywhere to disseminate public instruction among the
masses, and to foment commerce and industry, while at the same time the
inveterate elements of discord are being energetically attacked. Order
will thus establish itself upon solid bases, as the knowledge and
practice of republican institutions extend themselves, all of which will
be accomplished when intestine wars shall become rarities.
But international dissensions may supervene, especially those arising
from questions of boundaries and a strained punctiliousness.
Nations like ours, owners of immense territories, ought not to ruin or
dishonor themselves by bloody and disastrous wars on account of portions
of uninhabited, and in many cases uninhabitable, regions, which, for the
sake of the civilization and humanity of America, might as well belong
to one nationality as to another.
Wars of this class are those to be averted, and this will doubtless be
accomplished, if all the nations of the continent adhere to the saving
principle included in the transcendant compact celebrated between
Colombia and Chili.
The President of the republic desiring to assist all sister governments
in the adoption of so humane a measure, has resolved to return to Panama
in the early part of September
[Page 342]
of the coming year, and he has ordered me to request your excellency to
cause to be appointed a representative of your republic to proceed to
said city with sufficient powers to sign the referred-to convention, not
only with my government, but with those of the other American republics
that may send representatives.
The city of Panama being in easy communication with the capitals of all
the American republics, and as it were the center of this continent, is
the most appropriate point to reunite the representatives of them all,
and it is for this reason that by order of the executive power I extend
to the government of your excellency this invitation, which I hope will
not be disregarded, as its object is of such importance to America.
With the well established hope to receive at Bogotá a speedy and
satisfactory reply from your excellency, I take the advantage of this
opportunity to present to your excellency the sentiments of the highest
and most distinguished consideration with which I subscribe myself,
Your excellency’s very attentive and obedient servant,
His excellency the Minister of Foreign Relations
of the United States of America,
