File No. 763.72/8166
The Minister in Panama ( Price) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 17, 11.05 a.m.]
Your cipher telegram December 13. The National Assembly was then due to adjourn on the 9th instant, the day after receipt of Department’s circular of 7th.1 There are certain Austrians here whom our military authorities have felt it were safer to have interned, and the situation with respect to the protection of Panama Canal and to matters generally seemed to require similar action to [Page 390] that against Germany and the Germans. I believe every American official here thought as I that the Department desired Panama to follow after action taken by our Government against Austria-Hungary. Authorization given by the last National Assembly was based on a state of war with Germany. The Department seemed doubtful of the right of Panama President to take the action he did with the National Assembly adjourned but very anxious that such action be taken though left them without instructions. The Department approved of the steps taken by me. I refer to instructions 359 April 2 and 373 and 374 April 25 last.1 I was solely animated by the belief that the Department would like action at this time before adjournment of National Assembly and that I was doing, judging from former indication, what the Department desired. My suggestion was made informally and I stated at the same time that I was not acting under instructions. I am advised now that the Panaman [Government] would have acted without suggestion but I was then uneasy about adjournment of the Assembly. I regret exceedingly if I misinterpreted the wishes of the Department. The following is the resolution adopted by the National Assembly:
The National Assembly of Panama in view of the message of the President in which he advises the National Assembly of the declaration of war made by the Congress of the United States of America on the Austro-Hungarian Empire and considering, that the Republic of Panama has expressed before, in its laws and resolutions, its firm willingness to lend to the United States of America all the powers and cooperation it may be capable of in the present war, making common cause with the democratic nations which are fighting to impede the predominance of the world by the Teuton powers: be it
Resolved, That the Republic of Panama be declared in a state of war from to-day December 10, 1917 with the Austro-Hungarian Empire;
That the President be invested with the necessary powers to cooperate with the United States of America in the prosecution of the war in accordance with [the constitution] and the principles of international law.