File No. 819.74/73.
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of War.
Washington , September 9, 1915 .
Sir: I have the honor to call your attention to the question of wireless telegraphy in the Republic of Panama. You will recall that this was long a matter of negotiation between the United States and Panama, and that, during August, 1914, a decree was issued by the Panaman Executive whereby the United States was given a permanent control of the wireless situation in the Panaman Republic, this control being “complete and permanent” of “everything relating to wireless communication in the territorial waters of Panama.”
In October, 1914, William P. Cresson, the American Chargé d’Affaires in Panama, after a consultation with the Governor of the Canal Zone, reported to this Department that Colonel Goethals believed “no wireless stations whatever should be authorized in the Zone which are not under the direct control of the United States Government. Any such stations should be erected at the expense of the Panaman Government.” “* * * no stations should be considered on the San Blas coast or near the frontier * * *” and, in the Colonel’s opinion, “the whole matter had best be maintained in statu quo” until the end of the war.
In this connection there is transmitted herewith a copy of a translation of a note received from the Panaman Minister in Washington. Before replying to the note of the Minister this Department would be glad to know if the position of the Canal authorities is still such as was stated to Mr. Cresson by Colonel Goethals. The Department will be glad to have a statement of the reasons for the position of the Canal Zone authorities that no wireless station should be considered on the San Blas Coast, or near the frontier, and the reasons, if any now exist, why the whole matter had best be maintained in statu quo until the end of the war, since complete and permanent control of the wireless stations in Panama has been given to the United States.
I have [etc.]