Office of the Historian

File No. 711.21/377

Chargé Belden to the Secretary of State

[Extract]
No. 401
American Legation,
Bogotá, March 24, 1917.

Sir: Previous to the receipt of the instruction of the 17th instant the press had published a cable stating that the consideration of the treaty in question had been withdrawn and conveyed the impression that this further delay meant its ultimate defeat. Upon the receipt of the Department’s cablegram of March 17 I verbally informed the Minister for Foreign Affairs of its contents. The Minister seemed somewhat relieved and asked me to present a note to the same effect for publication so as to calm the feeling of doubt and pessimism aroused by the press notices. In compliance with the Minister’s request and feeling that the publication of the sense of the Department’s instruction would allay somewhat the increasing irritation of [Page 299] the public, I sent the note, a copy of which I enclose herewith. This note was published on the following day and appears to have had the effect desired. However, as I stated in my cable of this morning, the long delay in the consideration of the pending treaty has not been forgotten and is the cause of deep resentment.

The question of the treaty is no doubt the great subject of the day in Colombia. The Minister for Foreign Affairs is apparently greatly worried, fearing the failure of the approval of the Senate. This spirit prevails throughout the governmental, political and influential social and commercial life of the capital. There is much talk of the moral and financial benefits to be derived by Colombia should the treaty be approved and the ratifications exchanged. Its refusal by the Senate would cause a deep-set and long standing bitterness towards the United States. As I mentioned in my reply to the Department’s cable of the 22d instant, the tension of feeling is great.

I have [etc.]

Perry Belden
[Inclosure]

Chargé Belden to Colombian Minister for Foreign Affairs.

No. 244
American Legation,
Bogotá, March 21, 1917.

Mr. Minister: With reference to my Note No. 237 of the 7th instant by which I had the honor to inform your excellency that a special session of the Senate had been called on the 5th instant and that one of the principal reasons for such session was the desire of my Government to obtain action on the treaty pending between Colombia and the United States, I now have the honor to advise your excellency that at that session, which adjourned on March 16th, it was decided not to urge the consideration of the treaty because of the lack of proper time.

Your excellency’s Government well knows the keen and sincere desire of the President to obtain the ratification of the treaty. It was only because of the unusual press of business presented at the short special session that the discussion of the treaty was suspended until the extraordinary sessions of Congress beginning on the 16th of April next, when it is felt there will be more chance of a successful issue. The prospects of the approbation of the Senate were observed to be growing distinctly better because of the change of opinion throughout the country. It was felt wise to let this influence mature as it is fully expected that it will.

I take [etc.]

Perry Belden