Mr. Hart to Mr. Hay.
Bogota, October 13, 1898.
Sir: I have the honor to confirm my telegram of the 8th instant, as follows:
Referring to your cable 3d instant, I am pressing the matter. Colombian Government understands we mean business. The new administration not familiar with the case and asks a few days’ time to look into the matter, giving assurances that they do not desire to delay definite answer. Will $30,000 still be accepted as payment in full?
Hart.
The matter has been discussed in the cabinet, and the President at once sent to me the minister of public instruction, Mr. Thomas Herran, formerly our consul in Medellin, to present the President’s compliments and to say that on the part of the Colombian Government there is no disposition to delay the matter; but that the new administration, being unfamiliar with the case, desired to consult in Panama the record of the public sale of the Star and Herald property; that since I had declined to give time to consult with Mr. Duque as to any interest he may have purchased in the claim, if I would accord an opportunity to consult the record, as desired, communication would be had at once by cable with Panama and the President would much appreciate the courtesy. I advised the President’s representative that, with the distinct understanding that the matter would be brought to a prompt conclusion, I would have pleasure in submitting to my Government by cable the purport of the President’s desire. I am advised by Mr. Herran, still speaking for the President, that the cable was dispatched promptly to Panama. In the interview I assured Mr. Herran that the inquiry in Panama would be useless, because the records of the sale would not disclose the sale of the claim or any part of it, as no such sale of the claim or any part thereof took place. As yet I have received no reply from the department to my cablegram as above confirmed.
I am, etc.,