810.20 Defense/3148: Telegram
The Ambassador in Colombia ( Lane ) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 15—2:19 a.m.]
1049. My telegram No. 1030, August 10, 10 p.m. and my 1050, August 14, 8 p.m.27 I informed President López and Minister Echandía today regarding conversation reported in my 1050. I expressed the opinion that the request of Minister of War should greatly facilitate granting of our request for permission to maintain naval airplane facilities at Cartagena which should also give Government, provided Government agreed with us as to importance of maintaining such facilities, an excellent argument with Congress in obtaining approval.
Obviously the maintenance of air service between Cartagena and San Andrés would be primarily for the benefit of Colombian population.
The President replied that he agreed with my point of view and would call Commission of Foreign Affairs of Congress for tomorrow morning and would advise me as soon as conversation had taken place.
Both López and Echandía gave me to understand they approve in principle our request for emergency seaplane base at Cartagena although they did not so explicitly state.
- For telegram No. 1050, see infra.↩