(A) That all mention in Article IX of district of Correjimiento de Jurado be omitted, as neither being elements that have ever been taken into account in our view and discussions about the arbitration of Jurado. Leaving out these words, Article IX should be worded as follows: It is agreed between the high contracting parties and is declared that the dividing line between the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Panama shall be as follows, to wit: From Cape Tiburon on the Atlantic to the head waters of the Rio de la Miel, and following the range by the Cerro de Gandia to the Sierra de Chugargun and that of Mali, going down by the Cerros of Nique to the heights of Espave, and from there to the Pacific at such point and by such line as shall be determined by the tribunal of arbitration hereinafter provided, and the determination of said line shall conform to the decision of the tribunal of arbitration as next provided. As to the territory submitted to arbitration, the boundaries and attribution of which to either the Republic of Colombia or the Republic of Panama will be fixed by the determination of the line aforesaid by said tribunal of arbitration, the title thereto and the precise limits thereof, and the right to the sovereignty thereof as between the high contracting parties shall be conclusively determined by arbitration in the following manner: The rest of the article as appears in the original. What would be the result? The result would be that the labor of the tribunal of arbitration would have as its broad task to define the line between the Altos de Espave and the Pacific, but without excluding a great deal of latitude, facilitating the labor and opening the way for a friendly understanding, in which, while not binding them to find out and discriminate the boundaries of the Corregimiento, a hard task in those deserts, does not exclude the taking into consideration all points which may enlighten their minds, as provided in the last paragraph of this article, in these words: The tribunal shall take into consideration all relevant laws and treaties and all facts proved of occupancy, possession, or political or administrative control in respect of the territory in dispute. I must mention that I have instructions to accept in case of a similar eventuality the Government of Chile or Brazil or their representatives in this country to designate the umpire and venture to suggest that it be so altered. [Copy of letter sent from Secretary's house.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 1, 1909. DEAR MR. CORTEZ: I find on reading over the project for the United States-Colombia treaty which I sent you recently that the first clause of Article III ought to be qualified to prevent a possible inference that the United States means to grant more than it may itself possess, and for that purpose I propose the addition at the end of the clause, after the words "similar conditions." the words "so far as the United States of America has any right or authority to fix the conditions of such importations." I think also that there would be danger of a misunderstanding from the use of the word "free," which might be troublesome to all parties and injurious to Colombians who might not know that United States products pay duties under all ordinary circumstances and are not free. To prevent this I think we should substitute the words "subject only to such duty as would be payable" on similar products of the United States, etc., in place of the words "free of any special duty with the exception of the duties paid" on similar products of the United States, etc. This conforms much more closely to the original memorandum of Mr. Vasquez Cobo, and obviates a danger of misunderstanding which would be unfortunate for us all. With kind regards, I am, as ever, Faithfully, yours, ELIHU ROOT. I inclose a draft of the clause as I propose to amend it. (Draft not on files.) Private letter Colombian minister to Mr. Root. (Not on files.) E. R. JANUARY 10, 1909. Had for its object to "acknowledge and testify in the most emphatic manner possible" that Mr. Root's action in the matter of the treaties has been marked by the "highest degree of kindness, consideration, fairness, spirit of justice, and enlightened foresight as to the future relations of your country and ours." We Colombians Says Minister Cortes fully appreciate your merits and desire for you still a long career of prosperity and success, for the benefit, not only of your great country, but for that of the whole mankind as the pioneer of an epoch-making foreign policy of the United States. Minister Cortes refers to the signatures to the three treaties the night before, and says: Many difficulties, delicate points, and intricate problems have been overcome and decided in honorable and fair conclusions. Message from the Secretary of State to the President, submitting tripartite treaties for the Senate. (Printed Ex. N, 60th Cong., 2d sess.) [Telegram from President of Colombia to Colombian legation, Jan. 12, 1909, handed to Secretary of State at Washington, Jan. 13, for his information.-Translation.] Am extremely pleased news conclusion treaties. These will be submitted to national assembly. I trust it will approve them and likewise the American Senate and Panama Assembly. I have confidence in the Government of President Roosevelt and Mr. Root. REYES. No. 223.] The American Chargé to Secretary Root. AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogota, January 13, 1909. SIR: Referring to this legation's Dispatch No. 185, of October 28,1 last, I have the honor to inclose herewith, a cutting from El Nuevo Tiempo, of this morning, containing the telegrams received here in regard to the signing of the treaties between the United States, this country, and Panama, together with translation thereof. Considerable favorable comment is made in the cutting in question on the character of the treaties as shown by the telegrams received, and, in my interview with the minister for foreign affairs yesterday, he assured me of the satisfaction of this Government with the conclusions reached. The article from El Nuevo Tiempo was inspired by the Government and carefully corrected by Dr. Urrutia himself. It may be taken, therefore, to express official sentiment on the treaties. The minister for foreign affairs showed me a telegram yesterday from Mr. Cortes, stating that Mr. Dawson would leave Washington shortly to bring the treaty just made to this capital. Dr. Urrutia asked me, in this connection, the probable date of Mr. Dawson's departure. I replied that I had not been advised by the Department of State that Mr. Dawson was to leave Washington at any early date. I have the honor to be, sir, PAXTON HIBBEN, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim. [Inclosure 2 in No. 223.-Translation.] [El Nuevo Tiempo, January 13, 1909.] Treaty between the United States and Panama. Effecting better conditions than the investigations of ex-Minister Mendoza Perez-The honor of Colombia saved-Colombia will have the right in perpetuity to the use of the canal-Colombia conceded $2,500,000 gold as Panama's participation in our foreign debt-The present treaty surpasses that of the Herrán-HayFuture of Colombia with reference to the Panama Canal-The emerald mines of Muzo saved, thereby assuring the resources for the conversion of paper money and the attainment of stronger capital in gold, changing the economic situation of the countryColombia's foreign credit strengthened and bettered-Drop in foreign exchange-Bogota, with its emerald mines of Muzo and salt mines of Zipaquira, the richest part of Colombia. 1 Not printed; not important. During the ordinary night session of the council of ministers of the 11th instant, the minister for foreign affairs advised the council of the following cablegram: PRESIDENT, Foreign Minister, Bogota: WASHINGTON, January 9, 1909. Treaties United States and Panama signed, bettering former conditions. Colombia conceded free use, in perpetuity, of canal and $2,500,000 gold, participation Panama our foreign debt. CORTES. From London and from Washington we have received the following cablegrams: NUEVO TIEMPO, Bogota: LONDON, January 11, 1909. Press published to-day treaties Colombia, United States, and Panama, by which Colombia is conceded perpetual use, free, of canal, and $2,500,000 gold, participation Panama foreign debt. Press considers treaties satisfactory Colombia, saving its honor and assuring its material interests. Colombia credit strengthened and bettered. Colombia debit bonds rising in price. Railway and other Colombian enterprises will be bettered with treaties and contract emeralds Muzo with company handling diamonds South Africa. Among interested are Rothschild. NUEVO TIEMPO, Bogota: CORRESPONDENT. WASHINGTON, January 10, 1909. Press in relating treaties United States, Colombia, Panama, considers triumph and satisfaction given to Colombia. Is also opinion Latin-American diplomats resident in Washington. CORRESPONDENT. By the former of these cables it will be seen that the Government has finally obtained its just dues, the fruit of nearly five years of persevering and patient labor to save the honor of the country and to secure our great interests in relation with the Panama Canal. The treaty in question must be considered more advantageous to Colombia than the Herrán-Hay treaty, as the latter submitted us to constant humiliations from the domination of a powerful foreign country over our territory-humiliations daily suffered by the Panamans-obliging us to organize the police of the canal and to guarantee the preservation of order of the same, without the means to fulfill this obligation. As recognized by the foreign press, the honor of Colombia is saved, and, consulting our immediate material interests, the most important that we have in relation with the Panama Canal, is the right of free use, in perpetuity, of the same, enabling thereby our merchant marine and war vessels to cross, which will result, perhaps, in far better results to Colombia than to the United States or any other country on the globe, because our immense and rich shores on both oceans shall be united and shall come to be in the future an emporium of riches to which all the Colombians of the country will rush in search of work. Buenaventura, with its railway to the rich valley of the Cauca and the exploitation of the coal mines through which this line traverses, and Cartagena, with its beautiful and safe bay, will be in time two of the most important ports of the South American Continent, and at no distant date Japanese vessels will proceed to the same to exchange products of the advanced industries of the Land of the Rising Sun with our natural and agricultural products to the mutual benefit of the two countries. It is to be hoped that these treaties will be approved by the legislative bodies of the respective countries. In the same night session of the council of ministers of the 11th instant, the subsecretary of treasury in charge of the office of treasury and finance reported that he had received notice by cable that in London there had been signed a contract with a reputable company whose members intend to exploit and sell South African diamonds. According to this contract they will exploit the Muzo mines, the emeralds therefrom to be sold for account of the Government of Colombia and under its supervision; and the company binds itself during 20 years to account for an annual minimum sale of $1,250,000, gold, at higher prices than those at which these precious stones have lately been sold. We consider that the triumph gained by the country, and which we announce in the cables before mentioned, if they are perhaps not of so much importance and transcendency as harmony between all Colombians and the solid preservation of peace, as the fruits of justice, they must be placed after these, as abundant material resources ence placed in the hands of the Government for continuing the promotion of the construction and betterment of railways, cart roads, etc., gold capital will be able to come into the country in sufficient quantities to fill the most urgent needs for money, to the end that the money interest be lowered at least 10 per cent per annum, with which many industries, which to-day do not exist, on account of the scarcity of money, may be established. The Government as well as the banks must occupy themselves largely in providing a circulating medium, in order to avoid any sharp drop in foreign exchange, because it is clear that the country having but a third or fourth part of the coin that is indispensable, and always increasing its scarcity by the growing necessity of meeting the expenses of railroads, mining enterprises, etc., the day may arrive when foreign exchange will drop 10, 20, or 30, as in previous times, when no account was taken of the immense resources just pointed out, exchange used to rise. With the fixed revenue assured by the contract relating to the Muzo mines, which is a minimum of $1,250,000, gold, annually, which can easily be doubled, the Government should be able to obtain a small loan, guaranteed by said revenues, of ten to fifteen millions of pesos, which amount should be destined exclusively to the conversion of the paper money to gold or to gold bank notes, and in this manner change in a few days the painful economic situation of the country to one of abundance and welfare. It is to be hoped that the Government will follow this course, taking advantage of the foreign credit of the country, and so foster the growing confidence which we have in the preservation of peace. The contract signed in London relating to the emerald mines of Muzo proves that the richest part of Colombia is Bogota, or. better said, the interior of the country, as the sole riches mentioned represent a fine annual revenue of some millions of pesos, and if the Muzo mines aggregate the large and inexhaustible banks of salt of Zipaquira and Boyaca, the conclusion is reached that no other sections of the country are more effective and rich than these which benefit the whole nation. Outside of being the capital of the Republic, there is another title possessed by Bogota. It is true that, in times past, it was very diffi |
