821.6363/901: Telegram
The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:26 p.m.]
117. I think that the petroleum bill on the whole is very good. It is much better than Law 120 of 1919. Urueta examined it and recommended changes which the President accepted.
It will please some of our companies more than others. Therefore, I think it would be unwise for me to make the observations requested. (My 116, September 19, 5 p.m.) This morning I was requested by President Olaya, through Urueta, to telegraph urgently to the Department of State asking George Rublee to come here at once. If agreeable, will Rublee telegraph terms of contract and authorization for the American Commercial Attaché here to sign the contract for him? (The purpose of this is to avert later difficulties with the comptroller.)
The petroleum bill as now written will be presented to Congress before Mr. Rublee’s arrival in order to avoid the chargé that an American lawyer wrote it. President Olaya wants him to arrive in Bogotá as soon as possible while the bill is under consideration especially in connection with the contentious title question, and also for the Barco matter.