411.19/162
The Minister in Panama (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 13.]
Sir: I have the honor to bring to the attention of the Department an apparent error which appears in the Department’s publication: “Claims—Convention between the United States of America and Panama”, Treaty Series No. 842, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1931.4
On the face of the publication in question appears the following statement, which is believed to be in error: “Ratified by Panamá, September [Page 942] 25, 1931”. In this connection I wish to quote from my despatch No. 309 of January 8, 1931, as follows:
“Immediately after the Claims Convention was ratified by the Panamanian Congress on December 22 (1930), it was signed by the President and Secretary of that body and forwarded to the Executive Power. The President of Panama and the Minister of Foreign Affairs signed the decree on December 23.”
“It appears, however, that the decree has not as yet been published in the Official Gazette, due to the fact that the Gazette is published irregularly. I understand that Acts of Congress approved by the Executive Power do not become effective until they are published in the Official Gazette”.
“… I am transmitting herewith a copy and translation of the ratification decree.”
The enclosure shows that the treaty was ratified by Congress on December 23, 1930, and signed by the President of the Republic and the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the same date.
My telegram No. 38 of January 19, 1931, reads as follows:
“My Telegram No. 25, January 7, 4 p.m. Decree ratifying Claims Convention was published in Official Gazette on January 13. Davis”.
Respectfully yours,
- Text also printed in Foreign Relations, 1926, vol. ii, p. 865.↩