File No. 819.77/93.

The Secretary of State to the American Minister.

Sir: The Department has received your confidential despatch No. 19, of the 6th instant, in which you report a conversation between yourself and Señor Obarrio, a member of the Panaman Assembly, in regard to the proposed construction of the Panamá-David Railway.

A copy of your despatch has been forwarded to the Secretary of War.

I am [etc.]

P. C. Knox.

Note.—The President’s message to Congress on departmental questions1 was read December 21, 1911; it refers to the Panama Canal and calls attention to the need for legislation relating to the government of the Canal Zone, which should approximate a military government.

  1. See page 467 of this volume.