File No. 033.1100 K77/105.
The American Minister to the Secretary of State .
Panama , March 5, 1912 .
Sir: Notwithstanding the short time at our disposal, it was possible to complete all the arrangements at a late hour on the 26th ultimo, when Señores Arjona, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Arango, aide-de-camp to the President of Panama, Mrs. Dodge, myself, and Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, left for Colon.
At 7 o’clock on the following morning the Washington arrived and I immediately went on board with Mr. Andrews. At 9 o’clock the Secretary and his party landed in the cruiser’s launches and were received by Señores Arjona, Hazera, Arango, Arosemena, Governor of Colon, and Dr. Velázquez, as well as by all the other Panaman officials at Colon, the principal officials of the Isthmian Canal Commission and Panama Railroad and quite a large crowd composed chiefly of natives. The landing place was decorated with flags and a band played the national anthems.
After the formal introductions the Secretary entered the special train, which had been provided by the Panaman Government and which was drawn up close by, and proceeded to Panama. At [Page 1248] Panama the station was cleared and profusely decorated and the Secretary was met by the reception committee, which presented flowers to the ladies and made a most cordial address of welcome. After the presentations had been made the Secretary and his party, the reception committee and others were conveyed in some twenty-five automobiles, provided by the Panaman Government, to the Tivoli (the Secretary having decided to stop there), the Secretary’s carriage being accompanied by an escort of mounted police. The roadway was lined with police and firemen, and four bands stationed at various points played the national anthems.
At 3 p.m., accompanied by Señor Arjona, his Staff, and myself, in the President’s own carriages, the Secretary called upon President Chiarí, who was attended by all the members of his Cabinet, by the Designados, and by other high officials. During this call President Chiari made a formal and most cordial address of welcome to the Secretary, who replied with equal cordiality. At the suggestion of the Panaman Government, made to save the Secretary all unnecessary fatigue, it had been arranged that this call should be considered also as a call upon the Ministers of State and Designados.
Upon leaving the Palace, the Secretary and his Staff, accompanied by me, left cards upon all the Diplomatic Missions accredited here and then returned to the Tivoli, where almost immediately all the calls were returned.
In the evening the Secretary and most of the members of his party dined at the Legation, the following other guests, drawn as much as possible from all the different political parties, being also present: President and Señora Chiari, Señor and Señora Arjona, Dr. Pablo Arosemena, Señor and Señorita Boyd, General de la Guardia, Dr. and Señora Porras, Señor de La Espriella and Colonel and Mrs. Gorgas.
After dinner a reception followed at the Legation at which about 250 people were present, also including as many representatives as possible of all political parties and Panaman society.
On the next day, the 28th ultimo, the Secretary and his party, accompanied by the reception committee, the members of the Legation and others, made an excursion to Old Panama, which at the request of the Secretary had been substituted for the excursion in the bay of Panama. Luncheon was taken at the house of the Honorable F. M. Thatcher, Chief of the Civil Administration of the Canal Zone, and at 4 p.m. the Secretary and his party attended a large reception in the President’s Palace. In the evening the Secretary, with all the gentlemen of his party, attended an extremely elaborate banquet in the Hotel Central at which 170 persons were present, while the ladies of the party dined with Señora Ramón Arias F. Jr., later observing the banquet from the gallery of the hotel. Upon this occasion Mrs. Knox was presented by Señora Chiarí with an attractive basket, of native workmanship, filled with valuable ornaments found in ancient Indian graves. Señor Arjona made a speech in honor of the Secretary, to which the Secretary replied. It had previously been arranged that there would be no other speeches.
On the following day, the 29th ultimo, the Secretary and his party returned to Colon, accompanied by Señores Arjona and Arango, the members of the Legation, Lieutenant Colonel Hodges, acting chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission, and others, stopping [Page 1249] en route to visit some of the points of interest on the Canal. At Colon, where he was received by the local authorities with the local band, he invited Señores Arjona and Arango to visit him on board the Washington, and upon leaving the cruiser Señor Arjona was given the usual salute.
Upon his arrival on board, the Secretary received a telegram from President Chiari expressing deep appreciation for his visit, to which he replied by wireless, soon after the cruiser’s departure, as follows:
His Excellency Rodolfo
Chiarí,
President of Panama:
Upon parting from the fair shores of Panama I desire to extend to you in my own name and in the name of my Government my hearty thanks for your cordial welcome and warm and generous hospitality while it was my privilege to be with you. Mrs. Knox joins me in fervent wishes for your continued good health and prosperity and that of Mrs. Chiari.
P. C. Knox.
The Secretary’s visit passed off without a single regrettable incident, so far as I am aware, notwithstanding the necessary haste in preparations, and the chief officials and political leaders of all parties showed the best disposition to make it a success in every way.
The local press also, both during the visit and since the Secretary’s departure, has shown the greatest interest in his visit and has made uniformly cordial comments regarding it.
I have [etc.]