Evening star., 1902-03-17
COLOMBIA'S MINISTER
CREDENTIALS PRESENTED AT
THE WHITE HOUSE.
Expressions Of Hope for Closer Com
mercial Relations-Why DR..
Silva Was Recalled.

Senor Jose Vincente Concha, the newly
appointed minister from Colombia. pre-
sented his credentials to President Roose-
welt today. He was accompanied to the
State Department by DR.. Silva, the retir-
ing minister, and Mr.. Herran, who has
acted as charge at times, and is the secre-
tary of legation. Secretary Hay escorted
the new minister to the White House, with
Mr.. Herran. but DR.. Silva did not go fur
ther than the State Department.
The speeches exchanged had as their
keynote the expression of hope for closer
commercial relations between the United
States and Colombia. 1t is significant that
the new minister declared that the only
reason he was succeeding Dr. Silva was to
be found in the fact that the doctors SER
vices in another important post of duty
were deemed Indispensable by his govern
ment.
Minister Concha's Address.
Minister Concha's address was as fol-
lows:
Mr.. President: I have the honor to
place In your hands the letter addressed to
you by the president of the Republic Of
Colombia by which / am accredited near
the government Of the United States of
America-over which you worthily preside
in the capacity of envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary Of his country, in
which Office I am succeeding an eminent
fellow-ctizen for the only reason that his
services in another important post of duty
were deemed indispensable by my govern
ment.
"On entering upon the mission with which
l have been entrusted, it gives me great
pleasure, Mr.. President, to reiterate the
never failing friendship that the peo-
pie and the government of Colombia
have professed, ever since the coun-
try was born to an Independent life,
for the people of the United States to whom
they are bound by gratitude. community Of
political ideas and other ties that must be
drawn closer. II 1t be possible, in the event
of the two nations uniting in the purpose of
accomplishing one of the greatest works Of
civilization and progress known to the
world.
Colombia. who has always rejoiced in
witnessing the admirable aggrandiZement
of the country which was the first in
America to be born to an Independent life
and which has revealed to modern nations
the road that leads to the ideal welding of
liberty and democracy with justice and or
der, also recognizes In your republic one of
the best guarantees for the autonomy of
the nationalities of the new continent and
strives to further, as far as it lies In her
power, the grand advance in progress led
by the American Union.
Il offer earnest wishes for the growing
prosperity of your republic, and present
them also In the name of Colombia for our
own welfare. Mr.. President"
The Presidents Response.
The President replied as follows:
Mr. Minister: 1t affords me pleasure to
receive from your hands the letter of the
president of the Republic of Colombia
whereby you are accredited to me as the
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipo-
tentiary Of Colombia, and In welcoming you
to the station to which you have been ap-
pointed I bespeak for you reception no
less cordial than has been accorded to your
distinguished predecessors.
'The government Of the United States,
faithful to its constant purpose to main
tain and strengthen the good relations
which have so long and beneficially ex-
tended with the republics of the American
continents. sees in your friendly assurances
a gratifying augury that, through recipro-
cal efforts, the close intercourse between the
United States and Colombia will be con-
tinued and advanced, as BELTS the interests
of the states whose institutions rest on
common foundation and whose material as
sociation in the paths Of mutual advantage
cannot fail to aid the progress Of each.
The people Of this country bear the kind
liest feelings toward their neighbors, wish
ing for them peace and prosperity, and it
will ever be the pleasing task of this gov
ernment to give those feelings shape in all
appropriate ways"