their studies in medicine, who are required, with the approval of the department of public instruction, to remain abroad for a period of two years and study some branch connected with their profession, upon which they will lecture after their return to the country in whatever institution the Government may designate, a measure which, the minister adds, will be a stimulus to students of medicine; and in conclusion the assembly is informed that for the betterment of the mechanical part of the consular service, the Government has named an inspector, whose duty it will be to make frequent visits to consulates

In conclusion, upon the subject of foreign claims, the minister says: The Government being careful to preserve the credit of the Republic, it has not been in any manner heedless in regard to the substantiation of foreign claims or in the payment of the respective bonds. Of the 343 foreign claims presented to this department and substantiated by it for expropriations in the last civil war, 259 have been decided, 84 only remaining to be adjusted. The total amount demanded of the Republic in these 343 claims was $4,744,711 gold, of which $2,075,980 have been allowed. The claims remaining to be adjusted represent a value relatively small.

I have, etc.,

WM. HEIMKÉ.

[Inclosure 1.-Translation.]

Message of his excellency the President of the Republic of Colombia, addressed to the National Constituent and Legislative Assembly, which met in extraordinary session at Bogota, Colombia, on April 1, 1907.

HONORABLE DEPUTIES: In my last message of the 30th of December, 1905, I had the honor to inform you briefly of all the affairs regarding the public administration up to that date. To-day the cabinet ministers will do so at the same time with me, although not in the form of separate and extensive reports, since you were called together only a few days ago and as your extraordinary sessions will be of short duration, the Government having thought it more convenient not to fatigue you with extensive details and has preferred to condense their reports in the form and manner that you will see farther on, the ministers of the cabinet reserving the privilege of publishing separately their individual reports in a form more extensive in detail.

Besides the present report the general secretary of the presidency will send you the following official publications, in pamphlet form, which have been issued with reference to the public administration from the time of your last sessions up to the present date. Among these publications I point out the following: Legislative decrees, Organization of the service of the national treasury, Annals of the council of ministers, etc. In said publications and in the present report you will find all the data that you may require to completely inform you of all the acts of the Government.

I have the satisfaction of informing you that unalterable public peace has been maintained throughout the country, which is an evident proof that the Government judged aright the conspiracy of the 19th of December, 1905, when it characterized it thus:

"The Government considers that the conspiracy, deprived of a political character, is more properly a sign of transition. Without an ideal, without an appreciable basis, this movement marks the death of anarchy, with which the nation has been in combat during its first century of its existence. The good sense of the people, who have almost always shown themselves indifferent to attacks of this nature, was demonstrated at this time by a condemnation of the attack, so as to show that they have understood the responsibility that those persons upon whom it has fallen to represent the country and to work for its prosperity during these precious hours of its existence have toward their country."

As is known, after that conspiracy and as its natural consequence, the attack of the 10th of February, 1906, was made, which I judged at that time and which I judge to-day is the last of anarchy and disorder in which this country has lived during long years.

The country and the Government have absolute confidence in your patriotism, in your sound judgment, and in your capability, so that in the few days of these extraordinary sessions you may guarantee still more the stability of peace and set a good example, as well in our own country as abroad, that among our legislative and constituent bodies there will be no heated debates nor any political discussions such as were peculiar to some of our former congresses, because all your energies will be devoted to aid in the reconstruction of our country, which is so much in need of rest and tranquillity.

Our international relations have been cultivated and maintained on a footing of cordiality and correction, toward which effective help has been given by the honorable diplomatic body at this capital and by our representatives abroad, where it is considered that Colombia has finally overcome the era of civil wars, through which every country in the world has passed, and that she has now entered upon peace and progress.

The Episcopate and the Catholic clergy have continued to lend their efficient and profoundly beneficent aid toward the maintenance of public tranquillity, a work toward which the very worthy representative of the Holy See before the Colombian Government has also contributed in great part.

The acute economic crisis which has weighed down the nation since the termination of the late civil war as a result of the excessive emission of paper money is still sharp, and the Government, in order to relieve the situation, has applied the greater part of the public revenue, so as to recover firmly the credit of the country abroad and by this means to attract foreign capital for the construction of railways and for other industries; and in the interior of the country the Government has given its attention to the improvement of lines of communication, converting mule tracks into cart roads, repairing these and opening new ones. In this manner the public taxes have been given a reproductive and fruitful employment, which has controlled, in part, the bad economic situation and will finally control it entirely.

We have kept the level of our estimates, and every day the organization of our finances and the regular administration of our public taxes is improving to the point where we can say that these are properly managed.

The harvests were abundant last year and promise to be so this year, which will keep the mass of the population from suffering from a lack of provisions. Since your last sessions the assembly has increased the number of its members by 21 deputies, corresponding to the six new departments which have been formed and to the federal district. In this assembly all the different political groups of the country are worthily represented by the most distinguished men of Colombia.

I have spoken incidentally of the political composition of the national assembly, but only to give evidence of its representative elements; however, your labors will not be of a political character, as the nation has no problems of that kind pending: and as the actual institutions are accepted by all the political parties, the political labors of these parties will remain for the future, as they already are, in the fruitful field of the administration, in which all can work for the good of the country; and this will be the principal object of the political groups; they will either change into coincident forces for doing good or they will have to disappear, for the nation can no longer tolerate within its strong organism any disrupting and opposing forces to its progress and wellbeing under the name of political entities. It is pleasing to me to recognize in you all the patriotic and open spirit required to accept with loyalty and frankness the postulate concerning the mission of political parties, which is to-day dominant in all Colombians of good will.

The ministers of the cabinet will submit for your high consideration the matters which the Government deems convenient you should act upon during these extraordinary sessions.

Let us thank God for the great and manifest benefits that have been bestowed upon the nation, and let us make ourselves worthy to deserve them in the future.

BOGOTA, April 1, 1907,

R. REYES,

[Inclosure 2.-Translation.]

Translation of that portion of the report of the minister for foreign affairs addressed to the National Constituent and Legislative Assembly, which met in extraordinary session on April 1, 1907, wherein he refers to the relations between Colombia and the United States.

Honorable Deputies of the National Constituent and Legislative Assembly:

It is highly gratifying to me to be able to inform the honorable national assembly that our relations with all nations friendly with Colombia grow more cordial every day, which is largely due as well to the intelligent and meritorious labors of the accredited honorable diplomatic corps at Bogota as to our representatives abroad.

*

UNITED STATES.

In order to confer with our minister in Washington, Dr. Diego Mendoza Pérez, concerning the important questions which this chancellery has pending with that of the United States, and to repeat verbally the instructions which had been given to him at the time of his nomination, I confirmed by cable, when I took charge of the department, the orders which had already been transmitted to him to repair to this capital. Then, in a manner unusual in the history of our diplomacy and in disobedience of the orders received, Dr. Mendoza Pérez revolted and provoked the disagreeable incidents that are known to the whole country and which were a reflection upon the Government and public opinion, so justly outraged.

Afterwards, our plenipotentiary at Rio de Janeiro having advised us that Secretary of State Root desired to touch at the port of Cartagena and make Colombia a visit as a termination of his journey to South America, the Government prepared to receive that distinguished man of state in a manner befitting to him and to the traditions of hospitality and courtesy which have honored the Republic. The undersigned received from his excellency the President the honored charge of proceeding to Cartagena, as he did, to await the arrival of the illustrious guest. Mr. Root arrived at that city on the 24th of September of last year and was the object of proper attentions. In greeting Mr. Root in the name of the Republic and that of his excellency the President, I said to him, among other things: We receive you as a herald of peace, of justice. and of concord." Mr. Root. in reply to my discourse, declared “the sincere desire that all questions pending between the Republic of Colombia and the United States may be settled peacefully, in conformity with the spirit of friendship, of mutual esteem, and in accordance with honor for both countries."

This frank and friendly declaration, besides other manifestations of the distinguished Secretary of State in honor of Colombia and her illustrious chief, inclined the Government all the more toward the continuation of the negotiations initiated in Washington by Minister Mendoza Pérez. In order to bring them to a happy goal, Dr. Enrique Cortés was designated to replace Dr. Mendoza Pérez, a citizen who by reason of his eminence, his skill, and his long residence in European centers appeared to be the most proper person to continue this mission.

Mr. Cortés proceeded to Washington and began his labors in accordance with the instructions given him by this chancellery. In order to arrive at the best results in so delicate a question, the Government decided to name as counselors of legation the distinguished Messrs. José María Pasos, Gabriel O'Byrne, and Antonio R. Blanco.

The negotiations have been prosecuted in a satisfactory manner, and the Government entertains the hope of soon being able to announce to the Republic the celebration of an agreement in conformity with her honor and to her interests. It would be a matter of especial gratification to me if that agreement could be terminated before the end of your labors, so that you might consider it. I should mention that the distinguished diplomat, Hon. John Barrett, a loyal friend of Colombia, and who took upon himself a journey through our department with fruitful results to the country, has contributed in a large measure, with intelligence and tact, toward the good feeling existing between Colombia and the United States.

CLAIM OF RICARDO A. DEEB VS. COLOMBIA.

File No. 4344/5.

No. 139.]

Chargé Heimké to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION,

Bogotá, December 29, 1906. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy and translation of a letter addressed to me on the 17th instant by Mr. Teófilo F. Lian, as attorney for Mr. Ricardo A. Deeb, an American citizen, residing in this city, with reference to a claim presented by the latter several years ago against the Colombian Government for losses sustained by him through the action of the federal and the insurgent troops during the civil war, or rebellion, that existed in Colombia in the years 1901 and 1902, in which letter Mr. Lian complains of the delay of the Colombian Government in reaching a settlement of the claim in question, and requested the exercise of the good offices of this legation with that Government for an early adjustment of the matter.

In looking into the record of this case in the legation I found that Minister Barrett had addressed a note to the foreign office on the 27th of July last, in which he transmitted to that office certain papers named in his note, stating at the same time that, inasmuch as the claim in question had already been formally considered by the foreign office and that in response to its requirements the claimant had obtained and filed therewith certain additional necessary papers in the case, he requested the minister for foreign affairs to give the claim of Mr. Deeb that full and just attention which it might deserve and then propose the Colombian Government's terms of settlement as soon as convenient.

As I found that no response had been made to Minister Barrett's before mentioned note, I addressed one to the minister for foreign affairs yesterday (copy inclosed), in which I called his attention to the unsettled claim of Mr. Deeb and to the fact that up to the present time this legation had not been favored with a response to Minister Barrett's note of July 27 last, and concluded with a request to be advised of the present status of the matter, and, if it were proper for me to ask, what steps are being taken for a liquidation of the claim in question, which action I communicated to the attorney for the claimant in a letter addressed to Mr. Lian yesterday, a copy of which is herewith inclosed.

This morning I received a note from the minister for foreign affairs, dated to-day (copy and translation herewith inclosed), in answer to mine of yesterday, in which he informed me that the claim. of Mr. Deeb in reference is in course of verification, and that the examination and study of the matter would be hastened, in order that a decision thereon may be reached within the least possible time, which information I imparted to Mr. Deeb in an interview with him at this legation, with which he seemed pleased, since, he said, this was the first intimation that had reached him that the Colombian Government had taken under serious consideration the adjustment of his claim; but requested, as his business called him out of Bogotá frequently and for long periods of time, that this legation call the attention of the foreign office to the existence of his claim from time to time, so that it would not be forgotten-a claim for horses, mules,

cattle, and merchandise taken from him by the federal and insurgent troops during the late rebellion in Colombia, as before stated, the value of which, Mr. Deeb states, amounts to between $74,000 and $75,000 gold. I promised Mr. Deeb that this legation would be pleased to continue to use its consistent good offices with the Colombian Government toward a speedy and an equitable adjustment of his claim, which action I trust will meet the approval of the department. Inasmuch as I have made reference in this dispatch to Minister Barrett's note to the foreign office in connection with this matter, I inclose a copy of the same.

I have, etc.,

WM. HEIMKÉ.

[Inclosure 1.-Translation.]

Mr. Lian to Chargé Heimké.

BOGOTÁ, December 17, 1906.

DEAR SIR: In my character as attorney for Mr. Ricardo A. Deeb, an American citizen, I have the honor to address your excellency, in order to give you some information on the matter of the relation of that legation with my constituent, Mr. Deeb.

Some years ago the said Mr. Deeb initiated a claim against the Colombian Government in the ministry of war. From there it passed to your honorable legation, and afterwards to the ministry of foreign affairs, where, after a long delay, an order was issued requiring more proofs, which were duly furnished.

The honorable representatives of the United States, Messrs. W. W. Russell, Alban G. Snyder, and John Barrett, made several personal exertions and through notes, copies of which should be among the files of that legation, without having been able to obtain a definite decision for this claim, in spite of the many offers made by several of the ministers for foreign affairs.

Although this claim had been given a diplomatic character, by means of which it was exempt, in a certain way, from carrying out certain prescriptions (or formula), my constituent has taken the utmost care to comply with every requisite, which, according to the laws of the country, could be found necessary for the respective documents. For this reason I take the liberty of inclosing to-day the certificate of nationality of the claimant and the proof of his neutrality, which was attested by the very honorable declarations of Gen. Pedro Leon Moreno (chief of the government in the region where the expropriations took place), and of Dr. Rafael M. Ponton, an official employed by the Government to issue passports to neutral foreigners during the last revolution.

This, then, is to have it known, in the most respectful but also in a firm manner, in the name of my constituent (or client), that I present to your excellency my formal protest against the unjust delay which the claim mentioned has suffered, and I beg your excellency to use your good offices in order to obtain the decision to which, in justice, an American citizen is entitled. Your excellency will please to accept, etc.,

TEÓFILO F. LIAN.

[Inclosure 2.]

Chargé Heimké to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogotá, December 28, 1906.

Mr. MINISTER: On the 27th of July last, a few days before his departure from Bogotá for the United States, Minister Barrett had the honor of transmitting to your excellency certain documents in the matter of the claim of Ricardo A.