File No. 711.21/240.
Minister Thomson to the Secretary of State.
Bogotá, March 31, 1914, 5 p.m.
Colombia agrees to settle for twenty-five millions, and in so doing trusts that you will agree to the following draft for Paragraph 2 of Article IV:
In consideration of this recognition, the Government of the United States, immediately after the exchange of ratifications of the present treaty, will take the necessary steps in order to obtain from the Government of Panama the despatch of a duly accredited agent to negotiate and conclude with the Government of Colombia a treaty of peace and friendship with a view to bring about both the establishment of regular diplomatic relations between Colombia and Panama and the adjustment of all questions of pecuniary liability as between the two countries, in accordance with recognized principles of law and precedents.
The President and the Minister for Foreign Affairs earnestly desire this modification, not that they doubt your bona fides in the matter, but in order to render easier their efforts to obtain the ratification of the treaty by thus allaying any misapprehension as to the true intent of this clause in the minds of Congressmen.
The words “will take the necessary steps in order to obtain” were found in the former second paragraph to Article IV which was accepted in your instruction of February 28, 11 p.m.
[Page 154]I cannot too strongly urge your acceptance of this phraseology, not only because I have promised to recommend it to your favorable consideration but also because I feel that the adoption of this stronger and more definite language will be of no slight aid in obtaining the approval of the Colombian Congress and likewise dispel the instinctive suspicions of the public and the press.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs proposes the following as a fifth article, with the usual formal conclusion:
The present treaty shall be approved and ratified by the High Contracting Parties in conformity with their respective laws, and the ratifications thereof shall be exchanged in the City of Bogota, as soon as may be possible.