File No. 763.72111/478
The Consul at Barranquilla (Manning) to the Secretary of State
Barranquilla, October 3, 1914.
[Received October 17.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that there recently arrived in this city a gentleman who gave his name as Grant [Gaunt?] and claimed to be a captain in the British Navy and in conversation with the writer said he was here looking after the “neutrality of the wireless stations, and wireless on non-neutral steamers interned in neutral ports.” He claimed that the station belonging to the Telefunken Company at Cartagena had been performing non-neutral service, but it is the opinion of this Consulate that he found little on which to base his charges, as that station is now under close censorship.
From an instruction received from the American Legation a few days ago, I am led to believe he made the same charges against the radio station at Santa Marta, belonging to the United Fruit Company [Page 682] I am pleased to state that I have a letter of absolute denial from Mr. Goldsmith Williams, acting manager of the United Fruit Company, and he assures me that their station has at no time performed any unneutral service and that they are permitted to transfer only such messages as may pertain to their own business, and messages of the Colombian Government.
That this complaint probably came from the British Consulate here I have no doubt, and probably was in a measure personal spite against the company for having recently taken its financial agency away from the firm here of which the British Consul is an active member. I think it wise to place this matter before you at once, before it may be brought to your attention through the British Embassy there, to which I understand Captain Grant is attached, and which no doubt will be done, if Captain Grant accepts the charges against the Santa Marta station as having basis.
I am very glad indeed to state that I have so far heard no complaints of any non-neutral acts on the part of any American interests in Colombia.
I have [etc.]