Mr. Hart to Mr. Hay.
Bogotá, August 15, 1900.
Sir: Referring to my No. 391, of the 5th instant, I have the honor to report that there is no visible change in the situation. The Marroquin government continues to hold its own in Bogotá, but what progress, if any, it may be making in other parts of the country I have no means of knowing.
[Page 408]A report reaches here from the Cauca to the effect that Governor Sanclemente, nephew of the president of that name, has refused to give up to Mr. Marroquin’s appointee the governorship of the department, that he has imprisoned the Marroquin appointee, and that he has 9,000 armed men ready to support the government of Sanclemente. I do not vouch for this statement, although I am assured that it has reached here by courier. It is said also that the Lower Magdalena River and the coast county adjacent thereto stand by President Sanclemente, whose friends in that region have arms, ammunition, and money.
Upon entering his office the minister of foreign affairs appointed by Vice-President Marroquin notified each member of the diplomatic corps of his appointment. At about the same time President Sanclemente’s minister of foreign affairs gave notice to the diplomatic corps that the government which he represented was still in existence. President Sanclemente also sent to the diplomatic corps a copy of his protest. The diplomatic corps, after waiting for the situation to clear and seeing no change therein, sent its secretary to the house of the Marroquin minister of foreign affairs to say that his notes had been received, and that the diplomatic corps would await developments. The Marroquin minister of foreign affairs replied pleasantly that Vice-President Marroquin and himself understood and appreciated the situation. So this matter rests.
Meeting this minister of foreign affairs on the street, he joined me, and the matter of the change in government in Bogota was brought up by him. He desired to know whether the diplomatic corps had resolved to recognize his government. I replied that I could not speak for that body, but that so far as my own Government was concerned I thought it would take no action of any kind until it could determine which is the government de facto of Colombia. He asked me how long it would probably take to reach that conclusion. I answered that the conclusion would naturally depend upon circumstances and that of course I could not foretell how fast the situation would develop. The minister said that I would see very soon that there is but one government in Colombia, and that the government represented by Vice-President Marroquin. I answered that when that time came I bad no doubt that my Government would see its course much more plainly than now. I know this gentleman very well, have always had very pleasant relations with him, and our conversation on this occasion was altogether of a friendly character. He is Dr. Carlos Martines Silva, lawyer, literary man, and politician, who has heretofore filled ministerial office.
Mr. Palacio, minister of government under President Sanclemente, has been brought here a prisoner. On the day of his arrival he was paraded up and down the principal streets, under guard, before being taken to prison. This was regarded as an act of needless cruelty and aroused the hostile criticism of men of all parties. It is now said that the officer who subjected Mr. Palacio to this treatment has been dismissed from the army and put in prison. Mr. Palacio has been released from confinement, but is held a prisoner within the city of Bogotá. Many of President Sanclemente’s friends have been taken prisoners to keep them from conspiring against Vice-President Marroquin’s government.
Liberals in Bogotá profess to have advices from the north bringing news of a Liberal victory in the department of Santander and the [Page 409] advance of the Liberal forces into Boyaca. Basing their hopes on this alleged victory, Liberal partisans in Bogotá say that their armed friends will soon be here in force enough to make themselves masters of the situation. The Marroquin government denies the-reported Liberal victory in the north and claims that the Liberals have been defeated there by the forces of General Pinzon. If this be true, it is difficult to say whose victory this is, for the last word received from General Pinzon was a telegram in which he said that he awaited further light on the situation before he could accept the Marroquin government. The Sanclemente followers expect General Pinzon to bring his forces to the support of the Sanclemente government.
I shall, of course, keep the Department advised of the situation to the best of my ability, but my opportunities to know satisfactorily and to communicate quickly and with certainty are not all that could be desired. The mail service continues to be suspended, and telegraphic communication is not always open and not always to be relied upon.
I am, etc.