File No. 817.812/55.
The American Minister to
the Secretary of State.
No. 32.]
American Legation,
Managua,
December 18, 1913.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith a
copy and translation of a note from the Government of Colombia to that
of Nicaragua in which the former protests against Article II of the
treaty recently entered into between the United States and Nicaragua
whereby is provided a lease to the United States of Great Corn Island
and Little Corn Island in the Caribbean Sea.
The Nicaraguan Minister for Foreign Affairs has promised me a copy of his
reply as soon as it shall have been prepared.
I have [etc.]
[Page 1032]
[Inclosure—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Colombia to the Minister
for Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua.
Foreign Office, Republic of
Colombia,
Bogotá,
August 9, 1913.
Mr. Minister: The Government of Colombia
has become acquainted with article 2 of the treaty concluded between
Nicaragua and the United States of America. This treaty has been
published in various organs of the press of North and South
America.
By virtue of the article referred to Nicaragua gives in leasehold to
the United States of America the islands in the Caribbean Sea known
as Great Corn and Little Corn Islands, over which Colombia has the
right of sovereignty by incontestable titles to which my Government
has on more than one occasion called the attention of the
illustrious Government of Nicaragua, as also has it protested
against the usurpation consummated in the islands in question.
The terms of the aforesaid Article 2 of the treaty between Nicaragua
and the United States oblige my Government again to enter formal
protest against the ignoring of the right of sovereignty of
Colombia, and to reiterate the exceptions taken in various notes
addressed by my honorable predecessors in this Ministry to the
Government of Nicaragua.
The Minister of Colombia at Washington has received instructions to
protest formally in the premises to the Department of State of the
United States of America.
I avail [etc.].
