DESPATCHES, REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 343 



AMERICAN LEGATION, 

 Bogota, March 23, 1909. 



Mr. MINISTER: In reference to your Excellency's note of March 

 fifteenth, in which you state your Government's understanding of the 

 meaning of Art. VI. of the Root-Cortes Treaty of January 9th, 1909, 

 I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that I have communi- 

 cated its contents to my Government by telegraph, and am in receipt 

 of instructions in regard thereto. 



It gives me great satisfaction to manifest to Your Excellency that 

 I am authorised to declare that the United States Government's 

 understanding of the meaning of the said Article is the same as that 

 by the Colombian Government, as stated in Your Excellency's note. 

 My Government understands that the first part of Article VI. does 

 nothing more than recognise the long standing doctrine of Inter- 

 national Law, concerning friendly shelter to vessels in stress or need, 

 plus a gracious waiver on the part of the Colombian Government of 

 the anchorage and tonnage dues which Colombia could rightfully 

 impose by virtue of her sovereignty over such ports. 



Except for such waiver of anchorage and tonnage dues, the said 

 Article is not intended to, and does not, involve any breach of Colom- 

 bia's sovereignty over her ports, nor affect the unlimited jurisdiction 

 of Colombian Laws over them, nor give to the United States any right 

 to exercise jurisdiction in them, nor to build any wharves, arsenals, 

 or the like. 



I improve the opportunity to offer to Your Excellency the assu- 

 rances of my most distinguished consideration. 



(Signed) T. C. DAWSON. 



His Excellency, Dr. FRANCISCO JOSE URRUTIA, 



Minister for Foreign Affairs. 



