719.21/52
Procès-Verbal of a Meeting between the Secretary of State, the Colombian Minister (Olaya), and the Panaman Minister (Alfaro), May 8, 1924
Doctor Enrique Olaya and Doctor Ricardo J. Alfaro, Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary of the Republics of Colombia and Panama, respectively, having on the invitation of the [Page 288] Secretary of State of the United States, met with him in his office at the Department of State, Washington, at 2:30 o’clock on May 8, 1924:
Mr. Hughes stated that he had invited Messrs. Olaya and Alfaro to his office to confer with them regarding the institution of diplomatic relations between the two Republics which is so cordially desired by the Government of the United States.
The Secretary of State added that it would be most gratifying indeed for the two neighboring Republics of Colombia and Panama to enter into regular diplomatic relations, and he, therefore, asked the Minister of Colombia whether, by reason of the recognition of Panama by Colombia as an independent nation, he did not think the moment opportune for establishing such relations and inquired whether it would please the Government of Colombia to receive the representative that the Government of Panama would accredit for that purpose to negotiate and conclude with the Government of Colombia a boundary convention and a treaty of peace and friendship and to adjust all questions of pecuniary liability as between the two countries, in accordance with recognized principles of law and precedents. He further inquired whether Colombia would also be prepared to accredit a Minister to Panama.
Doctor Olaya replied that he was authorized by his Government to state officially to the Panaman Minister that the Republic of Colombia recognizes Panama as an independent nation and that his Government would be pleased to receive the duly accredited agent whom the Republic of Panama would despatch to negotiate and conclude with the Government of Colombia a boundary convention and a treaty of peace and friendship and to adjust all questions of pecuniary liability as between the two countries, in accordance with recognized principles of law and precedents. He added that the Government of Colombia would also be pleased to accredit a Minister to the Republic of Panama.
Thereupon, the Secretary of State, addressing the Panaman Minister, expressed the hope that the Panaman Government was ready to enter into diplomatic relations with the Government of Colombia and inquired whether his Government would be inclined, with a view to instituting official relations between the two Republics, to accredit a diplomatic agent to the Republic of Colombia, for the purposes mentioned, and to receive the Minister whom the Republic of Colombia might accredit.
Doctor Alfaro replied that he was authorized by his Government to express its gratification at the recognition of Panama by Colombia as an independent nation and added that his Government would despatch a duly accredited agent to negotiate and conclude with [Page 289] the Government of Colombia a boundary convention and a treaty of peace and friendship and to adjust all questions of pecuniary liability as between the two countries, in accordance with recognized principles of law and precedents. He added that his Government would be pleased to receive the Minister accredited by the Government of Colombia.
The Secretary of State then stated that he desired to avail himself of that opportunity to offer to serve as a medium for the request of the agrément of the Ministers who should be accredited by the Republics of Colombia and Panama, respectively, if Messrs. Olaya and Alfaro had instructions on the subject.
The Panaman Minister stated that he was authorized by his Government to inquire, in case the Minister of Colombia should have been instructed to answer, whether Mr. Nicolas Victoria J. would be persona grata to the Colombian Government.
The Colombian Minister replied that he was authorized by his Government to accept as persona grata anyone whose name should have been suggested by the Government of Panama, and he added that he was authorized by his Government, in reciprocation, to inquire whether Doctor José Maria González Valencia would be persona grata to the Government of Panama.
The Panaman Minister replied that he was authorized by his Government to accept as persona grata anyone whose name should have been suggested by the Government of Colombia.
The Secretary of State then expressed his appreciation of the good-will and friendly attitude thus shown by the Governments of Colombia and Panama towards each other, and his gratification that the sister Republics were to establish regular diplomatic relations and undertake formally to adjust their relations in accordance with recognized principles of law and precedents. It was, he said, his understanding that both Governments earnestly desired the establishment of regular diplomatic relations as soon as possible and to that end it might be agreeable to both Governments to set a date for the appointment of Mr. Victoria J. as Panaman Minister to Colombia and Doctor Gonzalez Valencia as Colombian Minister to Panama. If so, he would suggest May 15, 1924, as a suitable date, it being mutually agreed that both representatives shall thereupon proceed forthwith to their respective posts.
The Panaman and Colombian Ministers both replied that they were authorized by their respective Governments to state that Messrs. Victoria J. and Gonzalez Valencia would be appointed respectively as Panaman Minister to Colombia and Colombian Minister to Panama on May 15, 1924, and that they would thereupon proceed forthwith to their posts.
[Page 290]This procès verbal of the meeting, drawn up in triplicate in English and Spanish, was signed by the Secretary of State and the Ministers of Colombia and Panama. One copy will be retained by the Secretary of State, who will send of the remaining two copies, one each to the Ministers of Colombia and Panama respectively.
- Charles E. Hughes
- R. J. Alfaro
- Enrique Olaya