Some time ago Beck came to this legation asking advice as to the purchase
of mules which, he said, he needed to transport coffee. I told him the
question was one of business, which he would have to [Page 290] resolve for himself. He replied that he
understood the risks and would purchase the mules; from which it
appeared that the legation could not serve him in the matter of
advice.
Since the taking of Beck’s mules I have done what I could to aid him by
the use of good offices, and it appears that my inability to accomplish
the impossible has displeased him. * * * I required him to come to the
legation for his papers and to give me a receipt for them.
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Beck to Mr.
Hart.
Bogotá, February 20,
1902.
Mr. Minister: Two months ago, on the 18th
of December of last year, I had the honor to address myself to your
honorable legation, in order to seek protection for my own interests
and those of foreign houses, which have been affected by the armed
forces of the one and other of the two parties fighting in this
country.
Already since June 23 of the same year and with the same object I had
applied to your legation, without having reached any result, with
notable injury to the interests which I represent and which,
belonging to individuals, neutral as I am, ought to be assisted with
due protection.
Only three days ago a new attack was made on my property. An armed
force throwing down the gate and breaking the lock, entered a field
of the hacienda of “El Guasimal,” in Tena, where I had 56 beasts,
and took them to La Mesa by order of an officer, Ampudia, in the
service of the Government.
Mr. Minister has signified to me, verbally, that it has not been
possible for him to obtain an audience of the minister of war of
Colombia to speak about the protection which I have asked for as a
foreigner and neutral, and this said circumstance is sufficient
reason of itself why I should not insist with that honorable
legation about that matter, for if the diplomatic minister of the
American nation in Colombia can not succeed in being favored with an
interview with one of the members of the cabinet, it must be
believed that if the opportunity presented itself to have his
petitions granted they would be indefinitely deferred.
For this reason, to avoid greater damages to the foreign interests
which I represent and in order that the said property shall not
continue to be at the will of the first person who may wish to take
them, simply because he commands an armed force, I am obliged, with
regret, to ask Mr. Minister to return to me, with the bearer of this
communication, the documents which I have placed in your hands
relating to these affairs, in order to send them to Washington with
a copy of my correspondence with your legation, with the object of
asking for the direct protection of that Government now that it has
not been possible for the minister, whose good will I am pleased to
recognize, to obtain it.
