Ernest Dichman to National Executive Power , Bogotá , August 18, 1880 . Let it be published and put into execution. The President of the Union: [ l. s. ] RAFAEL NUNEZ. El secretario de fomento:,lb/> GREGORIO OBREGON, September 11, 1880

No. 211. Mr. Dichman to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: Referring to the subject of increased postal facilities with Colombia, and in compliance with your instructions to urge upon this government “the importance of adhesion to the convention of Paris as a measure not only of postal reform, but of great commercial advantage,” I beg to state that the matter has been brought frequently to the notice of the Colombian Government in both its executive and legislative branches, and I am now enabled to report the enactment of a law, a copy and translation of which I beg to inclose, which contains the necessary authorization for the incorporation of Colombia into the Universal Postal Union.

In accordance with the authorization conferred upon the Colombian Executive by this law, instructions have been sent to the Colombian minister at London to take the necessary steps to bring about the much-desired annexation of Colombia to the postal system of the world.

But I regret to be obliged to inform you at the same time that in the instructions just mentioned this government finds itself under the necessity to qualify its application for the annexation by asking to be permitted to effect the same without being obliged to assume the expense of the transportation of the foreign mails which are carried across Colombian territory by way of the Isthmus of Panama.

The reason for this action on the part of the Colombian Government is found in Article XVI of its contract with the Panama Railroad Company, a translation of which reads as follows:

Article XVI.

The company hinds itself to transport gratis over the railroad the national and state mails that may have to he carried from ocean to ocean, or to any intermediate point, and it may make such pecuniary arrangements as it thinks proper for the transportation of foreign mails, the passage of which over the Isthmus is declared free to all nations; hut the government of the republic may prohibit the passage by the railroad of the mails of those nations that may be at war with it, in which case the company shall refuse to carry them over the railroad.

The position of this government practically reduces itself, therefore, to a willingness to enter the Postal Union for all the territory of Colombia, with the exception of the State of Panama.

Whether such a qualified adhesion to the convention of Paris is admissible is a question which I beg to submit to the Post-Office Department for its consideration.

Under any circumstances I consider the incorporation of Colombia into the Universal Postal Union only a question of time, for if the qualified application of Colombia should be inadmissible, I have no doubt but that the Colombian Government will be obliged by public opinion and the wants of commerce to come to such an understanding with the Panama Railroad Company in regard to a modification of Article XVI of the contract above cited as will enable it to apply for admission to the Postal Union without qualification of any kind.

I deem this occasion opportune to inclose for your information a copy of a letter addressed to me by a number of American citizens at Puerto Berrio, in the State of Antioquia, from which you will be pleased to learn that in compliance with your instructions their just complaints as to excessive postal charges and other drawbacks connected with postal matters have been remedied.

I also beg to inclose a copy of the last report of the Colombian Postmaster-General, inviting your attention to the marked paragraph on page 5 of the report.

I am, &c.,