File No. 819.74/19.
The American Minister to the Secretary of State.
Panama, August 7, 1912.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction No. 61, dated the 10th ultimo, enclosing a copy of a letter from the Acting Secretary of the Navy stating that that Department is ready to take over the radio apparatus purchased for use on the National Theatre in Panama City at the price named if, upon inspection, the apparatus is found to be as represented and in good condition, and to inform you that according to the directions therein, I immediately addressed a note to Señor Chiari, Minister for Foreign Affairs, conveying to him the substance of the letter of the Acting Secretary of the Navy.
On the following day Major Butler, U. S. M. C., commanding the Marine battalion at Bas Obispo, Canal Zone, informed me that he had received instructions, also from the Navy Department, to inspect the apparatus in question and to report as to the possibility of erecting it temporarily on the National Theatre or elsewhere near by. * * *
He informed me that he will report adversely to erecting the apparatus even temporarily in Panaman territory, as its proper installation, protection, etc., would in that case probably cause continual difficulties, and recommend that it should be erected temporarily somewhere near Balboa, where the Isthmian Canal Commission have offered a site. I entirely agree with Major Butler’s opinion as to the inadvisability of erecting this apparatus in Panaman territory.
I have [etc.]