File No. 821.032.

[Untitled]

[The following is the only passage making reference to the United States:]

[Translation.]

The relations of the Republic with friendly nations have remained undisturbed. Only with Peru have incidents arisen, during the last few days, which might destroy the harmony so earnestly desired by the Government of Colombia. These incidents concern the litigation involving the sovereignty of this Government over the territory tributary to the Amazon. In the conduct of this litigation the maintenance of international peace is the criterion that guides Colombia, while safeguarding our rights to territories which to-day, as always, we consider ours by virtue of titles faithfully defended on many occasions. The Government has been occupied in preparing, with scrupulous care and fully aware of its supreme responsibilities, the stipulations that will permit it to terminate worthily and equitably the differences existing for some time between it and other nations.

The disagreement between Colombia and the United States caused by the separation of Panama has not yet reached the satisfactory solution so much to be desired for the disappearance of national solicitude concerning a problem in which are bound up great and valuable interests of the country. The Government of Colombia considers that arbitration is the most efficacious means of putting an end to this question, and will confide its claims to the judgment of an arbitral tribunal granting justice. Incidents auspicious to the rights of peoples strengthen the influence of arbitration in internatioal relations for the solution of controversies not adjustable through diplomatic channels.

In the middle of the past year there arose a conflict between an American company owning the tramway property and the public of Bogotá. As happens everywhere under such circumstances, several encounters took place. The foreign office intervened officially, with a view to terminating the disagreements, and, intelligently aided by the minister of the United States, the incident was closed by the sale of the tramway property to the municipality of Bogotá, which, apart from its income, has permitted them to initiate advantageously the negotiations for a loan, destined to complete and improve the public service of the capital.