File No. 711.21/370
Chargé Belden to the
Secretary of State
No. 397
American Legation,
Bogotá,
March 10, 1917.
Sir: In acknowledgment of the Department’s
cablegram of February 28, 7 p.m., relative to the question of the
pending treaty between the United States and Colombia, I have the honor
to transmit herewith copies of my note to the Minister for Foreign
Relations, of March 7, and the Minister’s reply thereto accompanied by
translation.
I first communicated the contents of the Department’s instruction
verbally, whereupon the Minister requested me to send a note to the
Ministry containing the message for the purpose of giving the note and
the reply thereto to the press. The publication of these notes has been
most favorably received and has calmed somewhat the unfortunate attacks
referred to in my cablegram of February 26 last.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure 1]
Chargé Belden to
the Minister for Foreign Affairs
No. 237
American Legation,
Bogotá,
March 7, 1917.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to inform
your excellency that the President on the fifth instant called the
Senate of the United States of America to a special session to
consider various matters of national importance. I have been
instructed to inform your excellency that one of the principal
reasons for the calling of this special session of the Senate is the
desire of the Government to obtain action on the treaty pending
between the United States and Colombia and that all governmental
forces will be exerted to secure its ratification.
The Government of the United States has the passage and ratification
of the treaty in question very much at heart. It was, however, felt
inadvisable during the recent short session of Congress on account
of the extraordinary pressure of business to urge action at that
time. I permit myself to mention to your excellency the fact that
the very critical international situation which absorbed the full
extent of the last session of Congress, because of the many details
to be considered, prevented action on various questions of a most
pressing character and that a special session of the Senate will
leave ample opportunity to give full consideration to the
treaty.
It is sincerely hoped by my Government that the Government and people
of Colombia will not misunderstand the situation regarding the
treaty which is set forth above.
I take this opportunity [etc.]
[Page 296]
[Inclosure 2—Translation]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Chargé Belden
Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
Bogotá,
March 8, 1917.
Mr. Chargé d’Affaires: I have the honor to
reply to your attentive note, dated the 7th instant, written to
inform my Government that His Excellency, the President of the
United States, has called the Senate to extraordinary sessions; that
one of the principal reasons for the convocation is the desire that
the treaty pending between Colombia and the United States be
considered, for the ratification of which every influence of the
Government will be brought to bear; and that the Government is
deeply interested in that the treaty receive the desired
ratification.
Having communicated the note referred to to the President of the
Republic, I received an order to express to you, and through your
medium to your Government, as I have the honor to do, the due
acknowledgment of the Government of the Republic for this new proof
which the Government of the United States gives of its high spirit
of justice in favor of the rights of Colombia and of the friendship
between her and your nation. Of these sentiments neither the
Government nor the people of Colombia could entertain any doubt, as
there have been many repeated acts of His Excellency, the President
of the United States, by which he has shown his decided good will
towards that friendship and especially in favor of the affair, the
solution of which has been desired since a long time.
I repeat [etc.]
