310.1163/83: Airgram
The Ambassador in Colombia ( Lane ) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 27—1 p.m.]
A–944. Reference my telegram no. 2039, November 13, 11 a.m. As a matter of courtesy, I called on the Apostolic Nuncio today to apprise him of the reasons for my visit to Bucaramanga.
Monsignor Serena said that he was very glad to know that I was making the trip, especially as he is under great pressure from what he termed the rabid element in the Department of Santander, He said that this element is insisting that he should make representations to the Colombian Government against the activities of Protestant missionaries in that Department on the ground that such Protestant activities violate Article I of the Concordat promulgated by Pope Leo XIII on December 31, 1887. The Nuncio referred me to this Article which provides that the Roman Catholic religion is the religion of Colombia and that the Colombian Government is obligated to protect and defend it. Monsignor Serena added that this Article was not amended by the supplementary Concordat of 1942 and that it is part of the enacted legislation of Colombia as Law 35 of 1888.
The Nuncio said that he would not make representations to the Colombian Government in this regard. He expressed agreement with my point of view that as long as the American missionaries do not violate the laws of the country the Colombian Government is obligated [Page 87] to protect them from physical violence. He expressed doubt as to the efficacy of any instructions sent by the Archbishop to the clergy in Santander as he realizes from his own experience in the case of the Concordat that the clergy in that Department have no respect for authority.