Minister Dawson to the Secretary of State.
Bogota (undated)
(Received March 18, 1909).
It is important, and perhaps decisive for ratification, that the Panama minister and the Colombian minister exchange notes defining limits of Jurado. Opposition is also laying stress on ambiguity sixth article of the treaty with the United States, caused by placing the comma after “Refucio” instead of “Comercio.”
Minister for foreign affairs of Colombia requests me to ask authorization to hold myself in readiness to write a note saying that use conceded is understood to be only as that right of refuge recognized by international law, to be subject to the usages established by international law with regard to right of refuge, and not as involving any breach of Colombian sovereignty over her ports.