Mr. Buchanan to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States on Special
Mission,
Panama,
December 25, 1903.
No. 4.]
Sir: I have the honor to advise you of my
arrival at Colon on the morning of the 22d. I was met there by Dr.
Gonzales Guill, subsecretary for foreign affairs, and Dr. Juan Mendez,
private secretary to the junta. A private car was placed at my disposal
and every possible courtesy shown me.
I reached Panama at noon and was met at the station by the minister for
foreign affairs and by him escorted to the hotel.
I transmitted the office copy of my credentials to the minister for
foreign affairs, with a note, a copy of which I inclose, under
“Inclosure 1,” dated the 23d, and handed to the minister early on the
morning of the 24th, together with a second note containing a
confidential copy of the remarks I proposed to make upon presenting my
letter to the junta. A copy of this note, together with its inclosures,
will be found herein, under “Inclosure 2.” * * *
I was notified by the minister for foreign affairs on the 24th that I
would be received by the junta to-day (25th) at 3 p.m. At that hour I
was conducted to the Government House, our carriage passing through two
short streets which were lined on both sides with infantry. At the
Government House I was awaited by the junta, the cabinet, the supreme
court, and all the military officers of high rank in the Republic. My
reception was marked by dignity and modest good taste shown by the
Government. A military band played the Star Spangled Banner as I entered
and when I retired from the Government House.
In response to my remarks Doctor Arango, for the junta, read a reply; a
copy and translation you will find herewith, marked “Inclosure 3.”
The entire consular corps was present at the reception, with the
exception of the Central American consuls and those from Chile and
Argentina. * * *
My reception to-day was in every way marked by a dignified, grateful
respect and regard for our country, and was therefore very gratifying to
me.
I have the honor to be, sir,
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
[Page 315]
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Buchanan to
the minister for foreign
affairs.
Panama, December 23,
1903.
Sir: I have the honor to advise your
excellency of my designation by the President as envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America on
special mission to your excellency’s Government, and to inclose
herewith an office copy of the letter I bear from the President
accrediting me in such capacity.
I beg to request your excellency to be good enough to designate a
time at which I may have the honor to present the original to their
excellencies, the members of the junta of the provisional government
of the Republic of Panama.
I have the honor to be, sir,
Very respectfully, your excellency’s obedient servant,
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Buchanan to
the minister for foreign
affairs.
Grand Hotel,
Panama, December 23,
1903.
Confidential.]
Sir: I beg to inclose for your excellency’s
information a copy of the remarks I shall have the honor to make to
their excellencies, the members of the junta of the provisional
government, upon the occasion of my presenting to their excellencies
my letter of credence from the President of the United States.
I have the honor to be, sir,
Very respectfully, your excellency’s obedient servant,
Wm. I. Buchanan.
[Copy of Mr. Buchanan’s remarks upon presenting his
credentials.]
I have the honor to present to your excellencies the letter of
credence I bear from the President of the United States of America
accrediting me as an envoy on special mission to your excellencies’
Government.
I am deeply sensible of the honor thus conferred upon me by the
President and profoundly grateful for the opportunity I am thus
afforded to meet your excellencies’ people and to study the
conditions and possibilities of the Republic of Panama.
The advent and the future development and life of this new nation is
a subject of keen and kindly interest to the American people, who
all wish for your excellencies’ people and country that wide
progress and advancement which peace, quiet, and economy bring to
all countries.
I am charged by the President to express to your excellencies his
fervent wish that these benefits shall come to the Republic of
Panama, and that happiness, contentment, and prosperity may abide
with your excellencies’ people.
[Inclosure
3—Translation.]
Sir: The junta of the provisional
government of the Republic of Panama receives from your hands with
lively satisfaction the letter of His Excellency the President of
the United States of America which accredits you before this new
nation as special envoy of your Government. By this the greatest
Republic of the American continent dignifies its appreciation of the
least as an equal with her sister republics of the New World, thus
clearly manifesting the high spirit of justice which animates the
great people of the north, in whose favor our people extend their
best wishes and their best intentions.
The junta of the provisional government of the Republic of Panama
considers the selection by the United States Government of one who,
like yourself, unites in himself such marked personal and public
qualities as to enable him to duly appreciate the present conditions
of our country as a high mark of deference. Your presence
[Page 316]
in our midst will be the
means, if that be possible, of more closely linking the two nations
together in sincere friendship and accord.
Notwithstanding we know that the people of your country are
interested in the existence and development of this nation, it has
been especially gratifying to this junta to hear the fact repeated
by the official representative of that people, as great as they are
generous and as free as they are well ordered. We pray the Almighty
that, as you have said, the benefits of progress, the advancements
from peace, and the emoluments of order—the harvest the people of
Panama aspire to—may follow, if possible, along the luminous path
set by your country with marked advantage for humanity.
You can assure His Excellency the President of your nation that the
Government and people of Panama thank him for his good wishes for
this Republic, and that we in return fervently hope that all good
may come to his people and to himself.
