Mr. Buchanan to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
(Special Mission) Panama, December 25,
1903.
No. 4.]
Sir: I have the honor to advise you of my
arrival at Colon on the morning of the 22d. I was met there by Dr.
Gonzales Guill, subsecretary for foreign affairs, and Dr. Juan Mendez,
private secretary to the junta. A private car was placed at my disposal
and every possible courtesy shown me.
I reached Panama at noon and was met at the station by the minister for
foreign affairs, and by him escorted to the hotel.
I transmitted the office copy of my credentials to the minister for
foreign affairs with a note, a copy of which I inclose, dated the 23d,
and handed to the minister early on the morning of the 24th, together
with a second note containing a confidential copy of the remarks I
proposed to make upon presenting my letter to the junta. A copy of this
note, together with its inclosure, will be found herein.
* * * * * * *
I was notified by the minister for foreign affairs on the 24th that I
would be received by the junta to-day at 3 p.m. At that hour I was
conducted to the Government house, our carriage passing through two
short streets which were lined on both sides with infantry. At the
Government house I was awaited by the junta, the cabinet, the supreme
court, and all the military officers of high rank in the Republic. My
reception was marked by dignity and modest good taste shown by the
Government. A military band played the Star Spangled Banner as I entered
and when I retired from the Government house.
In response to my remarks, Doctor Arango, for the junta, read a reply; a
copy and translation you will find herewith.
The entire consular corps was present at the reception, with the
exception of the Central American consuls and those from Chile and the
Argentine.
My reception to-day was in every way marked by a dignified, grateful
respect and regard for our country, and was therefore very gratifying to
me.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Buchanan to
the minister for foreign
affairs.
Panama, December 23,
1903.
Sir: I have the honor to advise your
excellency of my designation by the President as envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America on
special mission to your excellency’s Government, and to inclose
herewith
[Page 691]
an office copy of
the letter I bear from the President accrediting me in such
capacity.
I beg to request your excellency to be good enough to designate a
time at which I may have the honor to present the original to their
excellencies the members of the junta of the provisional Government
of the Republic of Panama.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Buchanan to
the minister for foreign
affairs.
Panama,
December 23,
1903.
Sir: I beg to inclose for your excellency’s
information a copy of the remarks I shall have the honor to make to
their excellencies the members of the junta of the provisional
government upon the occasion of my presenting to their excellencies
my letter of credence from the President of the United States.
I have, etc
[Subinclosure.]
Mr. Buchanan’s remarks upon presenting his
credentials.
I have the honor to present to your excellencies the letter of
credence I bear from the President of the United States of America
accrediting me as an envoy on special mission to your excellencies’
Government.
I am deeply sensible of the honor thus conferred upon me by the
President and profoundly grateful for the opportunity I am thus
afforded to meet your excellencies’ people and to study the
conditions and possibilities of the Republic of Panama.
The advent and the future development and life of this new nation is
a subject of keen and kindly interest to the American people, who
all wish for your excellencies’ people and country that wide
progress and advancement which peace, quiet, and economy bring to
all countries.
I am charged by the President to express to your excellencies his
fervent wish that these benefits shall come to the Republic of
Panama, and that happiness, contentment, and prosperity may abide
with your excellencies’ people.
[Inclosure
3.—Translation.]
Reply of Doctor Arango, on behalf of the junta,
to Mr. Buchanans remarks.
Sir: The junta of the provisional
government of the Republic of Panama receives from your hands with
lively satisfaction the letter of His Excellency the President of
the United States of America which accredits you before this new
nation as envoy especial of your Government. By this the greatest of
the Republics of the continent dignifies its appreciation of the
least as an equal with her sister Republics and gives a manifest
proof of the high spirit of justice which animates the great people
of the North, in whose favor our people extend their best wishes and
their best intentions.
The junta of the provisional government of the Republic of Panama
considers the selection by the United States Government of one who,
like yourself, unites in himself such marked personal and public
qualities as to enable him to duly appreciate the actual conditions
of our country as a high mark of deference. Your presence in our
midst will be the means, if that be possible, of more closely
linking the two nations together in sincere friendship and
accord.
Notwithstanding we know that the people of your country are
interested in the existence and development of this nation, it has
been especially grateful to this junta to hear the fact repeated by
the official representative of a people so great, free, and
generous. We pray the Almighty that what you have said, the benefits
of progress, the advancements from peace and the emoluments of
order, the harvest the people of Panama aspire to, might be, if it
were possible, as bright as that gathered by your country with
marked advantage for humanity.
You can assure His Excellency the President of your nation that the
Government and people of Panama thank him for his good wishes for
this Republic, and that we in return fervently hope that all good
may come to his people and to himself.
