File No. 819.74/44.
Minister Price to the Secretary of State.
Panama, May 19, 1914.
Referring to the Department’s telegram of May 11, Panaman Minister for Foreign Affairs after a conference today states that the chief reason they have not signed the London Radio Convention [Page 1044] is that they feel that it would be {improper to become a signatory in view of their contemplating conceding to us the monopoly of wireless telegraphy in Panama. He states further it would be impossible to make response to my two notes within less than thirty days and that while they had nearly concluded to grant the monopoly of the wireless to us their action might have to be ratified by the National Assembly which does not meet until September. I asserted that this could not be under our treaty. He stated that Panama would not accept proposal (h) limiting the United States Government to erect only the four stations therein described.