Mr. Beaupré to Mr. Hay.
Bogotá , May 12, 1902 .
Sir: Referring to the Department’s No. 385, of March 20, 1902, concerning the closing of the Presbyterian boys’ school in Barranquilla, I have the honor to report that very nearly the same difficulties were experienced in this city, and it required considerable pressure on the part of Mr. Hart before permission was given to open the schools. Both the girls’ and boys’ schools are now running, the latter with an unusually large attendance.
On the 17th of March, 1902, I was handed a letter from the Rev. J. G. Touzeau, of Medellin, dated February 8, 1902, complaining that the governor of the department of Antioquia had refused to grant permission for opening the Colegio Americano in that city. I immediately called at the ministry of public instruction, and the minister being absent, I took up the matter with the subsecretary, who promised to acquaint the minister with what I had said. On the following day I again called at the ministry, and the minister being present said that the subject had already had his attention, and that he had telegraphed orders to the governor of Antioquia to permit the opening of the school. On the same day I wrote the Rev. J. G. Touzeau, giving him the above information.
A short time after this the Rev. A. R. Miles, of this city, told me that he had received a telegram from the Reverend Touzeau, saying that the schools had been opened.
With reference to the trouble at Barranquilla, this legation had no information until the receipt of the Department’s instructions. I then called on the minister for public instruction, who said that before giving peremptory orders for the opening of the boys’ school in that city he preferred to institute some inquiries; but that if he found the conditions there the same as at Bogotá or Medellin permission would be given to open the school. He promised to notify me as soon as possible of the result of his inquiries.
I am, etc.,