Mr. Snyder to Mr.
Hay.
American Legation,
Bogotá, April 19,
1904.
No. 311.]
Sir: I have the honor to send you herewith
copies and translations of further correspondence from the Colombian
foreign office relative to events connected with the formation of the
Republic of Panama.
* * * * * * *
I am, etc.,
[Page 225]
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Señor Rico to
Mr. Snyder.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
Bogotá, April 14, 1904.
Sir: I have to inform your honor that at
the beginning of November of last year the Government of Colombia,
through its agent in France, informed the New Panama Canal Company
that, according to article 21 of the contract celebrated in Bogotá
on March 20, 1878, between said company and the Colombian
Government, it was absolutely prohibited from ceding any of its
rights to a foreign nation or government. Therefore the Government
of Colombia does not accept the transfer which may be made in
violation of that article.
This ministry would be pleased if your honor would inform the
Government of the United States as soon as possible that Colombia
has not given its consent to the transfer of these rights, and
firmly insists on the fulfilling of said article of the treaty of
1878.
I reiterate, etc.,
