Mr. Hart to Mr. Hay.
The bill authorizing payment Panama claim passed Congress finally yesterday. To-day according to arrangement I went to foreign office expecting settlement. Minister for foreign affairs showed me cable from Colombian chargé d’affaires in Washington stating that you had promised to transfer the matter from here to Washington and to await arrival of certain documents from Panama. Minister for foreign affairs said he hoped to make better terms in Washington than I had offered here, namely, the payment of $30,000 American, and consequently for the present the further consideration of the matter here would be suspended. I informed minister for foreign affairs that I had no information of any agreement to transfer to Washington and I would advise you at once of the unexpected attitude assumed by his Government.