File No. 419.11 D 29/21.
The American Minister to
the Secretary of State.
[Extract.]
No. 201.]
American Legation,
Panama,
September 2, 1912.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of the Department’s telegram of August 30, relative to the
demanded dismissal of Captain J. Francisco de la Ossa, jr., of the
Panaman police. I immediately drafted a note to Señor Chiari, Minister
for Foreign Affairs, a copy of which is inclosed. I then called upon
Señor Chiari and handed this note to him in the course of a long
interview, during which I read the note to him in Spanish, as Señor
Chiari speaks no English, and commented upon it in some detail,
reviewing the conduct of the police and their present dangerous
character, for which Señor de la Ossa was jointly responsible with Señor
Quijano. I then requested him to give me his answer at the earliest
moment, since I could not allow a solution of this matter to suffer
longer delay.
[Page 1255]
I then endeavored to see President Arosemena, intending to hand him a
copy of my note to Señor Chiari, but I was unable to do, as the
President sent a message to me to the effect that he was unwell.
Late this afternoon I received Señor Chiari’s reply, of which I inclose a
copy and translation, stating that by a decree dated to-day Captain de
la Ossa has been “separated from the exercise of his duties as captain
of the National Police.” This phrase, which is one often used here,
signifies the definitive removal of this man from the police as demanded
by the Department. I have already ascertained that Señor de la Ossa is
no longer wearing the police uniform and soon I expect to have
confirmation of his entire separation from the police.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure 1.]
The American Minister
to the Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
No. 251.]
American Legation,
Panama,
August 31, 1912.
Excellency: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s esteemed communication
No. 2806, dated the 27th instant, in reply to my note F. O. No. 249
of the 23d instant, in which I had the honor to inform your
excellency that I had received instructions from my Government
directing me immediately to demand of your excellency’s Government
the removal from their respective offices of Señor Julio Quijano and
Señor Franklin de la Ossa.
I have the honor to inform your excellency that I duly transmitted to
my Government by telegraph the substance of your excellency’s note
and that I have now received my Government’s reply instructing me to
state to your excellency that my Government sees no reason which
would justify it in changing in any way its proper insistence on the
dismissal of Señor de la Ossa, whom my Government considers is to be
held with Señor Quijano to be responsible for the outrages of a
grave character which have entailed loss of life to American
citizens as well as injuries to them.
My Government desires me to recall to your excellency’s Government
that there has been a prolonged series of indignities and injuries
which have been inflicted on Americans and that this recent outbreak
is only the culmination of this series. The circumstances under
which these indignities and injuries have been inflicted oblige the
Government of the United States to come to the conclusion that the
police of your excellency’s Government can not, under their present
organization, be trusted either to afford proper protection to the
lives and property of American citizens or themselves to keep from
committing against Americans acts of actual violence whenever an
occasion for this is presented to them.
My Government accordingly instructs me to say to your excellency that
the Government of the United States is compelled to repeat the
demand already made by it for the immediate removal of the officers
who are responsible and that unless the Panaman police is so
reorganized as properly to insure in Panama City, Colon, and the
harbors and territories adjacent to them the maintenance of public
order, the Government of the United Sates will find it necessary to
consider the immediate measures which must be taken by it in
connection with the duties, obligations, and rights which appertain
to it in this matter.
I avail [etc.]
[Inclosure 2.—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to the American
Minister.
No. 2855.]
Department of Foreign Relations,
Panama,
September 2, 1912.
Mr. Minister: Referring to your
excellency’s note No. 251 of the 31st of August last, I have the
honor to inform you that by decree No. 450, made to
[Page 1256]
day, Señor J. Francisco de la Ossa,
jr., has been separated from the exercise of his duties as captain
of the national police.
Shortly I shall address myself again to your excellency concerning
certain of the points mentioned in your excellency’s note.
I renew [etc.]
