821.00/1434: Telegram
The Ambassador in Colombia (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 11—4:35 a.m.]
1030. Reference my 1024, August 10.23 President López informed me this afternoon he was much gratified by favorable reception given his inauguration address. He said in drafting it he had in mind prime [apparent omission] for Colombia’s more active participation international affairs and intimate to Congress he intended to take it into his confidence. He said because of foregoing and of Turbay’s24 familiarity with developments Washington he decided to appoint him Minister Foreign Affairs as it would not be necessary for Turbay “to attend school” here on international matters.
In presence Echandía,25 newly appointed Minister of Gobierno, President expressed to me opinion with reference to two specific matters I brought up (establishment naval base Cartagena and our intelligence activities in Colombia) that it would be preferable within next 2 or 3 days for him to have a general conversation with members of Foreign Relations Committee of Senate and House “to sound them out”. After taking this first step López said he would summon me and discuss advisability as to next procedure. Echandía expressed agreement with López highly advisable from internal point of view to have an understanding with congressional leaders regarding oral agreement reached between President Santos and ourselves (and latter [later] confirmed by talk between López and Under Secretary Welles in New York July 2426) regarding permission for us to enter Colombian territorial waters and territory in event of an emergency.
Echandía and López both expressed agreement most delicate matter we had raised is establishment naval seaplane base in Cartagena. They indicated delicacy is due to internal political conditions in that district. As President indicated he would turn matter over to Secretary General Ministry Foreign Affairs for study. I am fairly sanguine there should be no outstanding difficulty, González Fernández already having expressed himself confidentially to me as being in favor of project. Both President and Echandía indicated their full understanding [Page 159] of necessity for establishment of base at Cartagena, in Colombia’s own interest, in combatting submarine activities in Caribbean.
Repeated to Panama for General Andrews.