File No. 763.72/3262
The Minister in Panama ( Price) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7.15 p.m.]
Supplementing my February 4, 4 p.m. The following are the paragraphs of a note received from Panaman Minister for Foreign Affairs acknowledging my note pursuant to Department’s telegram February 3, 1 p.m.:
The Government feels that the final conclusion reached by His Excellency the President of the United States of America, painful though it may be, is the only line of conduct compatible with the honor of the American nation and for the security of neutral commerce which can not be left to the mercy of a declaration of one of the belligerents.
It is to be hoped that it will not be necessary for the United States of America to resort to force for the defense of its interests and for the defense of the universally accepted principles of international law, but if it should occur I can assure your excellency that Panama will faithfully carry out the engagements it has contracted with that nation and will cooperate in the most efficacious manner for the defense of the canal.
Detention of certain Germans in the Republic of Panama, against which I advised, will not be carried out for the present.