Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-31
OmctaI 3SaDsrS.
PANAMA MISSION

fANAMA MISSION.
Documents accompanying the Report of the Sc
cretary OF the State TO the President of the u
ni'ed States, communicated 10 the House of Re
rresentatves With the Presidents Message. ON
Friday the 18th inst
No. l...continned
Extracts Of a letter from Mr.. Adams, Secreto
~ Of State, to Mr.. .4nderon, Minister Pr
ntPotentia,y to Columbia, dated eth .afay.
1928 9'
In the letter of the 20lh February, 1921 from
the late Mr.. Torres, demanding the rscoenition
OF the Republic of Colombia, it has been Observes,
that the additional proposal was made, of neqotiat
ing " treaties Of navigation aad commerce
" founded upon the bases of reciprocal utility and
" perfect equality, as the most efiicacious means
OF STRENGTHENING and increasing the relations of
" amity between the two Republics"
In compliance with this proposal. amonp the
documents furnished you, for proceeding upon
the mission to which you have been appointed nj
Minister Plenipoe ntiary to the Republic of Co
lombia, is a full power which will authorize yo,
to negotiate with any Plenpotentiary or PIepino-
tentiaries OF that Government, duly provided with
IKE powers, such treaty The President wishes
however, that every step in such nepoti..ion
should be taken with full deliberation The t,aa-
ty, II concluded, must, you are aware he r
served subject to ratification here with the advice
and consent of the Senate, by the CONSTITUTIONS
majority OF two-tlrds, as by the constitution ~
Colombia, (article l2O) their treaties, to be valid
must receive the consent and appreciation of their
Congress.
Our commercial relations with the COLOMBIAN
Territory, are OF so recent origin, and have do
pended so much upon the revolutionary condition
| OF that country, under which they have arisen
| that knowledge of their state and chsracte,
is very imperfect, although we are certain that
| they are altogether different from those which
may be expected to arise from permanent inter
! ,ItSut T,,t~ Il
be universally recognized, and free trade shall
be opened TO IFS inhabitants, with all parts of the
world. The only important point no. TO be set
tied, as the radical principle of all our future
mercial intercourse, is the basis proposed nv M,
Torres, OF reciprocal utility and perfect e0t.aLfv
As the necessary consequence OF which, YOU will
claim that, without waiting for the conclusion OF
| treaty, the commerce and navigation of the
| United States, in the ports of the Colombian Re-
public, should be received on the footing of eoua
| hty with the most favored nation. Ii is honed
indeed, that, on your arrival at the place of your
destination, you will find the principle already
settled; assurances to that effect having been
given by the Minister of Foreign relations to
Mr. Todd.
| BY an act Of the Congress of Colombia, of the
! 25ih OF September, 1921 an impost duty of 7 g
per cent was laid, upon all articles imported from
any part OF America, additional to the duty up-
on the like articles imported from Europe-Tbjs
discrimination was mentioned to Mr. Torres, at
the time Of his reception. He thought j, had ari-
sen only from an inadyertency, and promised 10
write concerning it to his Government. Mr..
Todd was instructed 10 demonstrate against il.
which he accordingly did. From his correspond
ence and conferences relating TO it, with the Co
lonbian Minister of Foreign Relations, DIR. Gual.
it appears that the object Of the law was, 10 bur
den with heavier duties the indirect trade from
| Great Britain and France, carried on through the
medium of the West India Islands, and thereby
l TO present 70 those Powers an nducement To ac-
knowledge the Independence of the Republic. 49,
However just or reasonable this expedient might
be, with reference to the relations between the
Colombian people and European nations, il wa,
msuiiesty injurious to the United States, nor
vas its injustice in any manner eompe nsated BY
the provisions of ano her law Of the Congress, o.
9Th September, 1921, allowing drawback oil
duties upon re-exportations en- their otC1 pesseIs
Of provisions imported from the United States
IL is aledgedby DIR Gua, that the object of thi,
latter law was TO favor the United States, by ia.
cili'ating the indirect trade between them and tht
British Colonies in the West Indies, the direc
trade being then interdicted by the laws Of the u
nited States and Of Great Britain. But this trad,
was carried on more advantageously to the United
States, by the way OF the Swedish, Danish ant
Dutch Islands, than IL could be by that Of tn
Colombian pcrts, and The object of iavoriDg tbei