File No. 841.3319/–
The Minister in Panama (
Price) to the
Secretary of State
No. 1496
Panama,
July 31, 1917.
[Received August 10.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose (enclosure
No. 1) a copy of a translation of a note from the Panaman Foreign Office
soliciting the Department’s acquiescence in a compliance by Panama with
a request of the British Minister accredited here that British warships
be permitted to remain at Taboga Island, which is located in the Bay of
Panama about 12 miles from the city of Panama and from the Pacific end
of the Panama Canal, for longer periods than the 24-hour limitation
applying in the Canal Zone waters and in neutral ports.
The British Minister has expressed to me in the past his earnest desire
that this might be possible and I am sure all of us would be glad to see
the privilege extended if it would be consistent with international
obligations and usage.
I respectfully solicit as prompt an expression of opinion as convenient
from the Department.
I have [etc.]
[Page 1269]
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Panaman Secretary of Foreign Affairs
(
Garay) to
the American Minister (
Price)
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to transmit
herewith to Your Excellency a copy of a confidential memorandum
which His Excellency Sir Claude Mallet, Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of His Britannic Majesty,
has presented to me.1
As this is an international matter in which the Government of Panama
desires to proceed in accord with that of the United States of
America, I would greatly thank Your Excellency if you would kindly
solicit confidentially the opinion of the Department of State on the
subject so that it may be taken into account in answering Minister
Mallet.
I venture to add that it would be particularly pleasing to this
Government to accede to the request referred to, and it is my
opinion that, considering the distance which separates the Island of
Taboga from the Panama Canal, the neutrality provided for in the
Canal treaty and in the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, between the United
States and Great Britain, is not effective in this case. I believe
likewise that, as the agreement concerning neutrality signed in
Washington October 10, 1914,2 between the Secretary of State of the
United States of America and the Minister Plenipotentiary of Panama
was concluded, as is stated therein, for the purpose of maintaining
the obligations of the two Governments as neutrals, and that
neutrality has in fact disappeared by our having affiliated
ourselves with one of the two belligerent parties, Panama may well
accede to the request of the Britannic Government, if Your
Excellency’s Government sees no objection thereto.
I avail myself of this opportunity [etc.]
