[Enclosure—Translation]
The Colombian Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Uribe)
to the American Chargé (Matthews)
Bogotá, November 16,
1928.
Mr. Chargé d’affaires: I have the honor to
refer to the esteemed note of the Honorable Legation, dated
September 15th last, in which this Ministry was informed that the
Government of the United States of America learned with much
surprise that the Government of Colombia, contrary to the procedure
customary between friendly nations, refuses to answer a concrete
question and attempts to deny to a friendly government the right
which it has to obtain information with respect to matters of
interest to its nationals.
As this Ministry is convinced that on this as on all occasions it has
been guided by the precepts of international law and courtesy and
mutual consideration due between friendly nations, you will permit
me to recall some of the antecedents which motivated my note of
August 14th last.
In its communication of January 13th of the present year the Legation
reminded this Ministry that a memorial presented to His Excellency,
the President of the Republic, and the Ministry of Industries by the
Compañía Colombiana del Petróleo, in which the Government of
Colombia was petitioned to reconsider a resolution of forfeiture
relative to the Barco Concession, had remained without answer. The
Honorable Legation added that without expressing any opinion for the
moment on the merits of the case, it desired to inquire whether the
Colombian Government would not reply without further delay to the
memorial referred to.
The following day upon having received the aforesaid note, namely the
14th of January last, this Ministry replied to the Honorable
Legation that if the Compañía Colombiana del Petróleo to which the
note referred, was the same company constituted by public document
No. 37, authorized before the 4th Notary of the Circuit of Bogotá,
the Department of State had erred in giving instructions to His
Excellency, the Minister of the United States of America to inquire
of the Chancellery the result of private negotiations which a
Colombian Company might have undertaken before the National
Government.
That note established from that time on the idea of the Government of
Colombia with respect to the interference of the Honorable Legation
of the United States in matters which, having to do with private
rights, should be treated solely before the Courts of the Republic,
for which all means except diplomacy are open.
That decision which faithfully interprets National opinion and which
far from separating the two nations will promote a more
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frank and cordial
friendship between them, was expressed to your distinguished
predecessor in my note of August 14th last, which I now have the
honor to reaffirm to you with the request that you kindly make it
known to the Government of the United States of America.
I avail myself [etc.]
