701.2123/38

The Ambassador in Peru ( Dearing ) to the Secretary of State

No. 2733

Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s Instructions No. 490 of March 9, 1933, pertaining to the relation which should exist between the Embassy and the Colombian Government in the discharge by the Embassy of its duties with regard to Colombian affairs in Peru. The Embassy has observed the Department’s caution that the duties of the Embassy on behalf of Colombia in the present contingency must be of an informal nature, and that we should not, under any circumstances, act as the medium for diplomatic interchange between the Colombian Foreign Office and the Peruvian Government.

I have the honor to inform the Department that, with one or two exceptions, the activities of the Embassy in this regard have been limited to the repatriation of Colombians. As specifically authorized in the Department’s cable No. 37, February 20, 6 p.m., this matter has been dealt with with the Colombian Foreign Office through our Legation in Bogotá.

The Embassy did receive, from the Colombian Foreign Office through our Legation in Bogotá, a request that the Peruvian Government make arrangements for the repatriation of its subjects in Colombia. This [Page 558] request was forwarded to us in that manner because the Peruvian Minister had already left Bogotá and at that time there was no representative of Peruvian interests in Colombia. This request was immediately transmitted by me to the Peruvian Foreign Office, acting purely on a humanitarian basis, in the hope that thereby any untoward incident which might occur through the prolonged stay of Peruvians in Colombia might be avoided. It was also realized that to do this would react to the benefit of the Colombians still remaining in Peru as it would obviate any retaliation which would undoubtedly be motivated by attacks on Peruvians in Colombia. This suggestion was very favorably received by the Peruvian Foreign Office, and shortly thereafter the Italian representative in Bogotá was placed in charge of Peruvian affairs. The Peruvian Foreign Office assured me that measures would be taken to provide for the repatriation of its subjects in Colombia.

The other matters which have been dealt with in the correspondence from this Embassy to the Colombian Foreign Office are matters pertaining chiefly to the disposition of the archives of the Colombian Consulate in Lima and the arrangement of Señor Lozano’s personal affairs which Señor Lozano was unable to arrange because of his hurried departure from Lima. It is assumed that these are proper matters for direct negotiations with the Colombian Government, and the Embassy will be very careful in the future, as it has in the past, to follow the Department’s instructions with regard to not acting as a medium for diplomatic interchange between the two governments.

There has been received from our Legation in Bogotá an airmail letter dated March 17, 1933, of which I enclose a copy.12 I also enclose a copy of Mr. Caffery’s enclosure from the Colombian Foreign Office,12 which is a request that this Embassy make a report regarding the sacking of the Colombian Legation in Barranco. I am inclined to believe that the Department would not wish to have a report of this kind made. If it were made, it would of course be forwarded to the Department so that the Department might approve or disapprove it before being forwarded to Bogotá.

As I have already reported fully to the Department regarding the sacking of the Legation and have also sent copies of the report made by the Peruvian Government, (see my despatch No. 2651 of February 27, 193312) and a copy of the Nuncio’s strictly confidential report, (see my despatch No. 2676, March 6, 1933,12) it has occurred to me that the Department might prefer to select from this material whatever it thinks proper to be forwarded to the Colombian Government, and thus make the report in this manner. I would respectfully, [Page 559] request, however, that the Nuncio’s report be not used for this purpose until this Embassy has been instructed to request permission and permission has been received from the Nuncio so to use it.

If it is desired that the Embassy should make the report to the Foreign Office at Bogotá, the Department’s specific instructions are requested, and in order to save time and labor, it is suggested that the Department give some sort of general instructions as to what kind of material should be included in such a report.

Respectfully yours,

For the Ambassador:
Garret G. Ackerson, Jr.

Secretary of Embassy
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