821.6363 Barco/65: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Colombia (Piles)

2. The American interests in the Barco concession have requested the assistance of the Department in procuring a reply to their memorial of March 16, 1926. They state that all possible means of securing a reply, which can properly be employed by them, have been exhausted and they feel that any further delay will constitute a denial of justice.

The Department is inclined to share their belief that it is necessary to take some step of a definite character to terminate this long delay and feels that this moment is favorable to take up the question with the Colombian Government …

You are instructed therefore immediately to address a formal note to the Minister for Foreign Affairs reading textually as follows:

“Pursuant to instructions from my Government I have the honor to invite Your Excellency’s attention to the fact that a memorial submitted on March 16, 1926 by the Compania Colombiana del Petroleo to the President of the Republic and the Minister of Industries, requesting a reconsideration by Your Excellency’s Government of the resolution of forfeiture of February 2, 1926, remains unanswered.

Without expressing any opinion at this time on the merits of this case, my Government desires me to enquire whether the Government of Colombia will not without further unnecessary delay make reply to the communication addressed to it by the Company concerned.”

Follow developments carefully and report by telegraph.

Kellogg