File No. 819.1052/51.
The Secretary of State to Minister Price.
Washington , November 5, 1915 .
Sir: The Department has received your No. 648, of the 16th ultimo, in which you report that you have held several conferences with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Panama regarding the suggested disarmament of the national police of Panama of large arms, such as rifles, and the strict enforcement of the law against the carrying of concealed deadly weapons, and forward a copy of the note which you addressed to the Foreign Office regarding the matter.
The Department will await the receipt of the reply which may be made to your note by the Panama Foreign Office before further instructing you in the case.
The Department notes your comment that, in order to dispose of the rifles referred to above to prevent further access to them by [Page 1233] the police, they should be sold or stored in a proper place where this Government could be assured that they would be kept in good faith. The Department is inclined to the opinion that the rifles should be sold. It will, however, be glad to have you discuss this matter with the Canal Zone authorities and then report further concerning it.
I am [etc.]