Minister Northcott to the Secretary of State.
Bogota, October 13, 1909.
Your cipher telegram, October 4, 12 noon. A note has been received from the minister for foreign affairs of Colombia, stating that, in the conception of the Government of Colombia, the abandonment Root-Cortés treaty will virtually eliminate the treaty with Panama, and that, in the event of this abandonment, Colombian Government will present the legation with a statement of the bases upon which it would be willing to enter into negotiations with the United States if a favorable reply should be made to the note of Colombian minister for foreign affairs, contents of which in my telegram of September 29, 6 p.m.
Colombian minister for foreign affairs to-day verbally stated that Colombian Government has no intention to enter into negotiations with Panama until after the treaty with the United States is completed, if then, and that whether or not Colombian Government would be willing to enter into negotiations with Panama will depend upon the character of the arrangement with the United States.
I replied verbally, according to my instructions your cipher telegram October 4, 12 noon. Colombian minister for foreign affairs, however, is desirous of written reply to his note referred to in my telegram of September 29, 6 p.m.
I shall wait for instructions.