Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 6, 1910

Minister Northcott to the Secretary of State.¹

[Telegram.]

American Legation,
Bogota, January 5, 1910.

Colombian minister for foreign affairs requested me verbally to ask my Government if United States and Panama would agree to submit question of separation of Panama from Colombia to vote of citizens of Panama. Terms of settlement of all questions according to the result of vote to be previously agreed upon by the three Governments. The interests of the United States in Canal Zone in no event to be affected.

Colombian Government claims it is impossible to secure ratification of Root-Cortes treaties without thereby causing [revolution?]. I believe this is true as public opinion now stands, and that the present preposition is made with the expectation of vote being for separation, but with the hope that a vote of Panama will so far satisfy Colombian people as to allow ratification of some satisfactory treaties.

Northcott.

1. Memorandum Added in the Department of State.—Referring to Mr. Northcott’s communication of the Colombian request that the question of a separation of Panama from Colombia be submitted to a plebiscite vote, you will find in Foreign Relations for 1903, p. 333 et seq., that the several municipalities of Panama unanimously approved the ratification of the canal treaty by the Provisional Government of Panama.

   The people of Panama also elected, afterwards, representatives to a congress of the Republic by almost unanimous votes.

   These two acts were as completely a ratification of the separation from Colombia as the election of repubican chambers in France in 1871 was a ratification of the downfall of Napoleon and the creation of a Republic.