Mr. Beaupré to Mr. Hay.
Bogotá, July 11, 1903.
Sir: I have the honor to report that the Colombian Congress has occupied itself with unimportant and preliminary matters since it convened on June 20 last. Realty nothing has been done.
The most important and really only question relating to the canal treaty has been the motion made by the opposition to the Government party to the effect that the vice-president must sign the treaty before it can be considered by the Senate. The debate on this question has been going on for many days and the end is not yet.
[Page 164]Ex-President Caro has been the leader of the opposition in this debate and has made many brilliant speeches. He has charged the Government with lack of good faith and consistency, both to the United States and Colombia, in not defending a treaty of its own making and for endeavoring to throw the whole responsibility upon Congress.
The theory of the discussion is to the effect that if the vice-president signs the treaty the entire responsibility for its making rests with the executive power, while if the vice-president does not sign and the treaty is either ratified or rejected no responsibility can attach to the Executive.
The vice-president has positively declined to sign, and if the motion as presented should prevail, and he still refuses his signature, the Senate will not consider the treaty at all, and in all probability Congress will be dissolved.
It is understood that a final vote on the motion will be taken on Tuesday next. As near as I can determine, the Government is likely to have a majority of one or two votes, in which case something of a more definite nature can be undertaken.
As I informed the Department to-day, in a telegram elsewhere confirmed, there is every prospect of the debates continuing without any decision until September, so that there will be only time to cable Washington just before the 22d of that month of the final action of Congress; and as cablegrams from this capital have often been delayed a month or more, as the Department is aware, there is grave danger in this.
If one could know just what would be the attitude of the Government later on, it would be easy enough to predict the outcome, for I still adhere to my oft-repeated opinion that if the Government shall seriously desire it the treaty will be ratified. Its present attitude of washing its hands of the whole matter will not do, for while the House is favorable, there is a declared majority in the Senate against ratification, and only the influence of the Government can win it over.
I am inclined to believe, from information obtained at different times, some of which I have reported to the Department, that the Government intends to use its influence later on, and at what it shall deem the proper time, in favor of the treaty. If so, the treaty will be ratified; if not, then it will be defeated.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,