File No. 819.00/398.
The President to the Acting Secretary of State.
Washington, May 10, 1912.
Sir: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your communication of May 10 in reference to the third quadrennial election of a President in the Republic of Panama and the wisdom of the designation of certain American officials to act by way of arbitration and suggestion in reference to the coming election so as to secure its fairness. A precedent for such action was established in 1908 under Governor Magoon by this Government, and in view of the fact that, the President of the Republic, Señor Arosemena, and the representatives of both candidates request it, there seems no objection to following that precedent. You will, therefore, communicate with the Minister, Mr. Dodge, and designate him and Colonel Goethals and the colonel commanding the regiment of infantry now stationed on the Isthmus to act as a committee for the general supervision of the registration and election and for taking such suitable measures, after consulting the Government and both parties, as will secure fairness in the registration and election.
Very respectfully,