And State Papers 699 



"The people of Panama have, by apparently unani- 

 mous movement, dissolved their political connection 

 with the Republic of Colombia and resumed their 

 independence. When you are satisfied that a de 

 facto government, republican in form and without 

 substantial opposition from its own people, has been 

 established in the State of Panama, you will enter 

 into relations with it as the responsible government 

 of the territory and look to it for all due action to 

 protect the persons and property of citizens of the 

 United States and to keep open the isthmian transit, 

 in accordance with the obligations of existing trea- 

 ties governing the relations of the United States to 

 that territory." 



The Government of Colombia was notified of our 

 action by the following telegram to Mr. Beaupre : 



"The people of Panama having, by an apparently 

 unanimous movement, dissolved their political con- 

 nection with the Republic of Colombia and resumed 

 their independence, and having adopted a govern- 

 ment of their own, republican in form, with which 

 the Government of the United States of America has 

 entered into relations, the President of the United 

 States, in accordance with the ties of friendship 

 which have so long and so happily existed between 

 the respective nations, most earnestly commends to 

 the Governments of Colombia and of Panama the 

 peaceful and equitable settlement of all questions at 

 issue between them. He holds that he is bound not 

 merely by treaty obligations, but by the interests of 



