Jil Colunjé to Scruggs, December 26, 1873

Señor Colunjé to Mr. Scruggs.

The undersigned, secretary of the interior and foreign relations of the United States of Colombia, at the same time that he acknowledges the receipt of the protest made by the representatives of the Panama Railway Company, directed to him with the note of the 6th of the present month by the Hon. William L. Scruggs, minister resident of the United States of America, has the honor to answer the other note of the 19th of the same month, in which his excellency manifests that his Government deems it important in the interest of general commerce, and especially of the transit of that route, that in the future disturbances, such as recently have occurred there, be avoided by the government of this union stationing a sufficient force there to protect the transit against the violence of local factions, and to prevent attacks upon the road itself, its officers and employés.

As the honorable minister in his note observes, the stipulations of the treaty of 1846, by which his Government compromised itself to guarantee the neutrality of the Isthmus of Panama, did not include the obligation to protect the railroad against the class of violences referred to, the undersigned, makes known from the present that the Colombian government has considered, and will always consider as its exclusive function and duty, to give that protection, a protection which this government has never refused, although it may have appeared inadequate during the late disturbances, on account of the magnitude of the acts committed at so great a distance from this capital. Furthermore, the undersigned communicates to his excellency the minister, that on the 15th of the present month, a decree was invade, to the end that hereafter no disturbances may be permitted on the line of the railway; a decree for the prompt enforcement of which there will always be a sufficient national force in Panama at the disposal of the state government.

By this provision, which Mr. Scruggs will read in the annexed note, the President of this union hopes that the public tranquillity on that interoceanic road will be made secure; with which will be satisfied the most ardent desires of the government of the undersigned, the wishes of that which his excellency so worthily represents, those of the railroad company, and those of universal commerce.

The undersigned feels a particular pleasure in reiterating to the honorable Mr. Scruggs the assurance of his high consideration, &c.