Mr. May to Mr. Beaupré.
Washington, July 31, 1903.
Instructions heretofore sent to you show the great danger of amending the treaty. This Government has no right or competence to covenant with Colombia to impose new financial obligation upon canal company and the President would not submit to our Senate any amendment in that sense, but would treat it as voiding the negotiation and bringing about a failure to conclude a satisfactory treaty with Colombia. No additional payment by the United States can hope for approval by United States Senate, while any amendment whatever requiring reconsideration by that body would most certainly imperil its consummation. You are at liberty to make discreet unofficial use of your instructions in the proper quarters. The Colombian Government and Congress should realize the grave risk of ruining the negotiation by inprovident amendment.