Mr. Hart to Mr. Hay.
Bogotá, September 18, 1900.
Sir: Referring to my telegram of the 17th instant, I have the honor to advise the Department that in the matter of the new government, headed by the Vice-President, I have thought it expedient to act with my colleagues in so far as was possible. The time having come when the government of the Vice-President had been in peaceful possession for a period of six weeks, so far as I could know in exercise of the functions of government in every part of the country, everywhere accepted in place of the government of the President, competent to discharge its international obligations, and the only entity capable of fulfilling these conditions, I gave notice to my colleagues of the diplomatic corps that I was prepared to enter into diplomatic relations with the existing government. The result was that on the 15th instant the German, British, Spanish, and French legations joined with me, each sending into the foreign office acknowledgment of the receipt of the minister’s note, wherein we had been advised that the Vice-President of the Republic, having resumed charge of the executive power, had named him as minister for foreign affairs. On the same day I sent in other notes relating to pending business, and called at the foreign office to take up some of the most urgent.
The next day I called on the Vice-President, who expressed great satisfaction because of the step taken by the diplomatic corps, and said he was glad that the first call made upon him was by the representative of the Great Republic of the North; that he quite understood the delay in entering into relations with his government, and that it is his intention to give speedy dispatch to the business of the foreign office. * * * The Papal delegate alone has not entered into relations with the government, explaining that he must await instructions from Rome.
From every point of view the coup d’état by which the Vice-President supplanted the President seems to have met with the greatest success. So far as I know the result has been accomplished without firing a shot, and the whole country seems to be looking forward to better conditions. The ministers named by the Vice-President are men of standing, whose appointment is universally well spoken of.
The Liberal revolution continues, according to the government, being confined to guerrilla warfare, and seems to be losing ground. Liberals in Bogotá are divided as to their manner of viewing the situation. Some regard the movement as hopelessly lost, while others insist that it will yet triumph.
I am, sir, etc.,