File No. 419.11D29/43.
Señor Lefevre read the note in my presence and said he would himself call
a conference with officials of his Government regarding the matter
tomorrow.
[Inclosure.]
[Untitled]
F. O. No. 14.]
American Legation,
Panama,
December 22, 1913.
Excellency: Referring again to the
occurrence in this city on the 4th of July, 1912, in the restricted
district known as Cocoa Grove, in which one American citizen was
killed and several others wounded by the Panaman police, I have the
honor to communicate by this note what I have several times already
communicated verbally; that my Government instructs me to say that
the large patience it has exercised in this matter has been
subjected to such continued, strain by your excellency’s Government,
that it has almost become exhausted.
The files in this case in your excellency’s office set forth in
detail the demands of my Government in this matter and further
exhibit the persistency with which compliance with same has been
insisted on. It was one of the first things taken up by me with your
excellency promptly upon assuming the duties of my post here and
ever since has continued to be a matter of urging on my part with
your excellency and the importance of a prompt and gratifying
settlement of the whole affair has been already pointed out.
I have been given assurances each time by your excellency that all
possible dispatch was being employed to bring these negotiations to
a satisfactory conclusion with my Government, and at your
excellency’s request a Foreign Office note from this Legation
regarding this matter has been held in abeyance until now.
The very definite and determined attitude of my Government has been
presented in the repeated communications to your excellency’s
Government respecting this cruel and criminal wounding and taking of
life by men occupying official position under one of your branches
of Government and any rehearsal would be more than unnecessary.
It is now nearly a year and a half since the enactment of this
tragedy.
In addition to the permanent force of officials of eminent ability
and worth that our great Canal will demand upon its completion, now
near, and the body of skilled and high grade employees necessary
under them, it is understood that there is to be stationed in the
neighboring Zone a large body of soldiers and marines, some of whom,
as your excellency knows, are already on the way here.
The proximity of all these representatives of my Government to the
Republic of Panama and your chief and capital city can but be a
source of considerable revenue and it is believed may be materially
beneficial in other ways to your excellency’s country. The
desirability of pleasant feelings on their part toward your people
and particularly on the part of the soldiers and marines, on account
of the connection of the shocking events of this occurrence with men
of their rank, must seem clearly apparent.
I shall indulge the hope of a prompt fulfillment by your excellency’s
Government in this distressing affair of what has resolved itself
far beyond hope and into expectancy by reason of the amount of
incontrovertible proof, that has made the position taken by my
Government unquestionable, and respectfully ask an undelayed
response to that end.
I have [etc.]
