Mr. Beaupré to Mr. Hay.
Bogotá, November 17, 1903. (Received November 19.)
Minister for foreign affairs sends another note, requesting that I transmit by cable an abstract, as follows:
As the Government of the United States does not definitely state that it will oppose landing of Colombian troops, but will secure hearing for General Reyes, it may be supposed its purpose is to bring about peace in Colombia and Panama, to the end that the latter shall renounce independence and thus avoid armed action otherwise inevitable. If this is the intention of the United States, Colombia will accept, provided territorial rights of Colombia on the Isthmus are not prejudiced. Maintenance of order falls to the power holding sovereignty, which the United States has heretofore recognized. Accordingly, it is an inadmissible theory that the United States should now permit or aid dismemberment of Colombia merely to prevent temporary disturbance of the transit. Colombia has for fifty years maintained free transit, but she can not be asked to carry this to the extent of agreeing to the loss of precious territory simply from fear some interruption of transmit may occur. Sovereignty of nations may not [Page 230] be destroyed for the purpose of avoiding transitory prejudice to commerce—an argument as to the effect of the existing treaty, and that civilization will suffer more by the violation of a public treaty than a temporary interruption of traffic. The most efficient means the United States could employ to prevent interruption of transit would be to notify rebels to abstain from obstructing Colombian Government in reestablishing order and constitutional rule. This is demanded of the United States by treaty. If the United States troops have been used to disarm Colombian army it is in subversion of national sovereignty and contrary to the treaty.