File No. 319.1123L25/39
Minister Price to the
Secretary of State
[Extract]
No. 901
American Legation,
Panama,
April 20, 1916.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a copy of a
letter from Brigadier General C. R. Edwards, Military Commander of the
Canal Zone, replying to a note from me, sending him a copy of Captain
Mitchell’s report, and stating that I should be glad to have any
information which his headquarters might have regarding the status of
Nunez, and any suggestions [he] might care to make.
[Page 931]
I have not yet referred to this matter in any talks with the Secretary of
Foreign Affairs of Panama, because I felt it advisable to await the
receipt of the report of the representative of our military authorities,
who has been conducting the attempted identification by our soldiers of
the Panaman policemen involved in this riot.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure—Extract]
General Edwards
to Minister Price
Headquarters United States Troops,
Panama Canal Zone,
Ancon, C. Z.,
April 11, 1916.
My dear Mr. Minister: In reply to your
letter of the 8th instant, regarding the information furnished by
Captain Mitchell, of the Canal Zone Police, relative to Carlos
Nunez, I may state that the Panamanian authorities agreed to keep
Nunez confined until he was tried for matters in connection with the
Colon riot, or, if they found that he should be released without
trial, he would not be released until I was informed of the
intention to do so.
For some time, I kept in touch with the confinement of Nunez, as I
had heard rumors that he was out of confinement, but each time that
I have inquired about the matter I was informed that he was still in
confinement. As to the trial of Nunez, I know nothing whatever about
it.
I think it would be well to call Señor Lefevre’s attention to the
fact that Captain Mitchell has information relative to the
employment of Nunez in Panama and, after stating the agreement that
I had with the Panamanian authorities that he would not be turned
loose without first informing me, ask him pointedly what explanation
the Government of Panama has to offer for such action.
Very respectfully,
