File No. No. 763.72112/10987
The Minister in Panama (
Price) to
the Secretary of State
No. 2179
Panama,
November 20, 1918.
[Received December 5.]
Sir: Referring to my despatch No. 2158 of
November 5, with which I sent a copy of a new draft of the enemy
trading bill proposed to Panama, including provisions for an alien
property custodian, and authority to sell real estate and convey
titles, I have the honor to enclose (enclosure No. 1) a translation
of a note from the Panaman Foreign Office acknowledging the receipt
of the proposed bill, but expressing the opinion that inasmuch as
the war has virtually ended, the adoption of such a law is entirely
unnecessary.
It would seem that the opinion of Secretary Lefevre is well taken, and I shall
await further instructions from the Department before asking
additional action at the hands of the Panaman authorities.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Panaman Minister of Foreign Affairs
(
Lefevre) to the American Minister (
Price)
S.P. No. 2246
Panama,
November 20,
1918.
Mr. Minister: I have had the honor to
receive the courteous communication of Your Excellency, F.O.
696, of the 5th instant, together with which you transmit a
rough copy of a project of law relative to “trading with the
enemy,” which contains a few amendments and additions to the”
one which that Legation sent me previously, expressing in due
time the opinion of the military authorities of the Panama
Canal, that the adoption of such a law by the National Assembly
of Panama would be very beneficial to the interests of Panama
and the United States in the present war.
I have read said project with great interest, but, since the war
has virtually ended and the signing of peace is near, I believe
that the adoption of such a law by our Assembly under the
present circumstances would be absolutely unnecessary.
I improve this opportunity [etc.]
