Ernest Dichman to By the President: Wm. M. Evarts, November 9, 1879

No. 202. Mr. Dichman to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: Referring to the series of correspondence on the subject of the custody of registers of American vessels by the consuls of the United States in the ports of Colombia, I beg to inform the Department that I am assured by the Colombian secretary of foreign relations that the attention of the next Congress will be called to the matter, with a recommendation to make such a change in the law as may be required by the exceptional position of the free ports of Aspinwall and Panama.

The accompanying copy of a note from the Colombian secretary of foreign relations, which clearly sets forth a promise to that effect, also contains an explicit statement showing that the vessels of all nations are treated alike in Colombian ports, and that no discriminations are practiced.

I am, &c.,