File No. 2491/129.
The Costa Rican Minister on Special Mission to the Secretary of State.
Washington, March 14, 1910.
Mr. Secretary: As I have already had the honor of verbally saying to your excellency, my Government received with satisfaction the very timely suggestions set out by your excellency in the identic memorandum, delivered on March 1, to the undersigned and to the Hon. Dr. Porras, minister on special mission of Panama. My Government considered that a protocol of submission in which the clauses indicated by your excellency should be solely and simply included, was a sure means of justly and honorably settling the differences concerning the boundary between Costa Rica and Panama, although such a protocol could not take into account, in their entirety, the claims of Costa Rica. Panama, however, saw fit to make some observations concerning said memorandum, which, having been considered [Page 816] by the Department of State, and discussed at various conferences with the representatives of that Republic and the undersigned, gave rise to a draft convention, which, after it had been examined and fully modified on Friday last at the request of the representative of Panama, was presented to the final consideration of both Republics by the Assistant Secretary of State, the Hon. Huntington Wilson, at the conference held on Saturday, the 12th instant, with the favorable recommendation of the Department of State.
Anxious as my Government is of terminating this ancient controversy, and constantly desirous to show your excellency in the most obvious manner the high appreciation in which it holds your timely and impartial mediation, no less than its profound gratitude for this service, also accepted the draft of the protocol such as was agreed to in the conference of Friday and presented by the Assistant Secretary of State at the conference on the day following.
If, contrary to what is to be hoped, the representatives of Panama desire still to make new changes in the draft protocol, my Government would find itself compelled to believe that the sister Republic of Panama does not desire to enter into an agreement to which with such good will and impartial spirit Costa Rica invited it in deference to their reciprocal interests and the friendship which at all times has united the Costa Ricans and Panamans. In such case my Government will have, as an inevitable necessity, to insist upon the objections which exist against the Loubet award and which beyond all doubt vitiate its binding force.
I ask your excellency to accept, etc.,