Allan A Burton to Señor Santiago Perez, November 20, 1865

Mr. Burton to Señor Perez

The undersigned, minister resident of the United States of America, had the honor to receive on the day of its date, the communication which his excellency Señor Santiago Perez, secretary of the interior and foreign relations of the United States of Colombia, was pleased to address him under date of October 26, 1865, accompanied by copies of a correspondence held in September last between Acting Rear Admiral G. F. Pearson, commanding the United States squadron in the Pacific ocean, and the executive of the State of Panama, and in which communication his excellency has been pleased also to present his views as to the reciprocal rights and obligations of the two republics arising out of the 35th article of the treaty concluded between them on December 12, 1846.

Although the undersigned has, from protracted indisposition, until now been denied the honor of acknowledging the receipt of his excellency’s communication, he nevertheless did not delay to place the same before his government for its orders, which he awaits, and expects soon to receive. The importance of the views announced by his excellency rendered, in the judgment of the undersigned, this course eminently proper if not indispensable, and which was the more admissible, inasmuch as no inconvenience could result from the delay necessary to this end, Acting Rear-Admiral Pearson then having already submitted his action to his government, and must have received its directions at the date of his excellency’s communication, or very soon thereafter.

Notwithstanding the apprehensions deducible, perhaps, from a strict interpretation of the earnestness of his excellency, the undersigned hopes—indeed he is sure—that it would be an act of supererogation on his part to combat for a moment the possibility, even, that the United States of America could under any circumstances be wanting in the legal justice and friendly respect to be expected from the intimate community of interests and the fraternal good understanding happily existing between the two republics.

The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity to offer to his excellency Señor Perez renewed assurances of his very distinguished consideration.