Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Address of the President to Congress December 7, 1915

File No. 319.1123L25/13.

Minister Price to the Secretary of State.

No. 590.]

American Legation,
Panama, August 21, 1915.

Sir: Referring to the note enclosed with my despatch No. 552 of July 9, transmitted by me to the Panaman Foreign Office protesting against the release of the Panaman policeman, I have the honor to enclose copies of three supplementary notes in which I have insisted upon a response to the note first mentioned.

The conference referred to in the third of these notes was one in which I took occasion to express to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Panama my disappointment and surprise at the seemingly indifferent attitude of Panama in this matter; to say to him it was making an unfavorable impression upon my Government and to remark that I was unable to comprehend the motives actuating them in this, even viewing the situation from their own standpoint. I made the observation again that I did not believe that if the positions of our respective Governments had been reversed during recent years, his own Government would have been as forbearing as ours, and I made reference again in passing to our treaty privileges. In responding, Secretary Lefevre said that he had written the Superior Judge twice without avail for information regarding the prosecution of this policeman, and indulged in the opinion that our Government would not think of taking over their national police force in the cities of Panama and Colon, saying that it would be a practical deprivation of their sovereignty. I warned him against feeling assurance on this line if energetic action and satisfactory settlement in the cases of the last three riots on their part continued lacking.

I have received no response to any of the four notes mentioned.

I have [etc.]

Wm. Jennings Price.

[Inclosure 1.]

Minister Price to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

No. 203.]

American Legation,
Panama, July 28, 1915.

Excellency: In view of the importance of the whole matter and the interest being taken in same by my Government, and the fact that the period of four months will have elapsed with the ending of this week since the riot in the city of Colon on April 2 last, I am impelled respectfully to refer to my note No. 196 of the 8th of this month and I have the honor to request respectfully that my Government may have the appreciated benefit of a response herein as promptly as it may possibly be convenient.

I avail [etc.]

Wm. Jennings Price.

[Inclosure 2.]

Minister Price to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

No. 206.]

American Legation,
Panama, August 9, 1915.

Excellency: I have the honor to refer to my note No. 203 of July 28 last, and to the note No. 196 of the 8th therein referred to, regarding matters connected with the Colon riot of April 2, and respectfully to request again an extension of the kindness and courtesy of your excellency to the end that a response to said last-mentioned note may be accorded without further delay.

I avail [etc.]

Wm. Jennings Price.

[Inclosure 3.]

Minister Price to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

No. 210.]

American Legation,
Panama, August 18, 1915.

Excellency: I have the honor to refer to my note No. 206 of August 9 last and to the notes therein referred to and likewise to our recent conference and again respectfully to request the attention of your excellency to the importance of this matter with the hope that a full response herein may be received by my Government without further delay.

I avail [etc.]

Wm. Jennings Price.