File No. 819.77/141.

The Secretary of State to the Secretary of War.

Sir: Referring to your letter of the 22nd instant and previous correspondence concerning the contract held by Mr. Basil Barnes [Burns] Duncan for building a railway in Panama beginning at the west side of the Chagres River near its mouth, I have the honor to enclose for your confidential information a copy of a despatch1 from the American Minister at Panama reporting a conversation recently held with Mr. Duncan.

A copy of your letter of January 22 has been forwarded to the American Minister at Panama.

I have [etc.]

P. C. Knox.
  1. No. 287 of January 11, 1913.