Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1912

File No. 819.77/80.

The American Chargé d’Affaires to the Secretary of State.

No. 185.]

American Legation,
Panama, October 10, 1911.

Sir: I have the honor to report that the special session of the Assembly adjourned October 9.

Two bills concerning the Panamá-David railway were passed by the Assembly and are now before the President for signature or veto. I inclose a copy and translation of the bill relating to my telegram of October 9, 11 a.m., sent in belief that if the American Government was opposed to the use of the six million dollars on deposit in New York, toward the construction of the Panamá-David railway, an instruction from the Department would enable me, almost certainly, to insure the President’s vetoing that bill and stopping the measure in its initial stage.

As this law effects a change in the Constitution, it must, if signed by the President, be reconsidered by the next regular session of the National Assembly: vide Article 137 of the Constitution.

If the other bill—which relates to the matter of final surveys, estimates, etc., upon the Panamá-David railway—shall be signed by the President and become a law, I will at once send a translation to the Department and will also notify the Department if this bill, the copy of which is inclosed, shall be signed.

I have [etc.]

Wm. Whiting Andrews.

[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Bill relating to the Panamá-David National Railway, passed October 9, 1911, and abrogating Article 138 of the Constitution.

The National Assembly of Panama decrees:

Article 1. The Nation shall not contract any debt for the construction and equipment of the National Railroad from Panamá to David with branches in the Provinces of Coclé and Los Santos. The Executive Power is authorized to execute this work with the B.6,000,000 which the Republic possesses at present invested in security mortgages in the United States of America.

Paragraph. Article 138 of the Constitution is abrogated.

Article 2. The Executive Power will allow, moreover, such sums from the national revenues as he may consider proper, for the termination of the work upon the railroad from Panama to David with branches, if the six millions of dollars to which the previous article refers are not sufficient.

Given in Panamá the 9th day of October, 1911.

The President,
Guillermo Andreve.

The Secretary,
Julio Arjona Q.