José Maria Rojas Garrido to Secretary General of the Government of the Sovereign State of ——, June 9, 1866

[Circular.—Translation.]

In consequence of the deplorable events on the coast of the Pacific by reason of the war between the republics of Chili and Peru, and the government of Spain, the grand general, Tomas C. de Mosquera, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from Colombia in Europe, in one of the conferences had with Lord Clarendon, foreign minister of her Britannic Majesty, manifested that in the war indicated, Colombia would keep the same neutrality as England, agreeable to the principles of international law.

Consequently the grand general has ordered the observance of the following course of conduct by all the authorities of the United States of Colombia, and he therefore addresses this order to the government of the State, that the following direction may be strictly observed:

1st. No assistance shall be given to either of the billigerents to troops, arms, boats, munitions of war, money, or any other articles which may be directly used in the war.

2d. As to that which has no relation with the war, nothing will be refused to one of the belligerents that is conceded to the other, provided that the same be not in conflict with the friendly and commercial preferences for the Pacific republics based on existing treaties or private reasons of convenience.

3d. The transit of troops over the territory of. the republic will not be permitted to either of the belligerents, neither the disembarcation of prisoners, nor the bringing into it of prizes of war, before condemnation.

4th. Neither will the vessels of war of the belligerents be allowed shelter in the ports, gulfs, or creeks, with the object of lying in watch for the enemy’s vessels that may pass, or to send their vessels to capture them.

5th. No merchant vessels arriving at points of the republic bound for the theatre of war will be permitted to obtain provisions or other necessaries except sufficient for the voyage, calculating the consumption according to the days necessary to make the trip in order that upon their arrival at their destination they will be unable to furnish aid to the belligerents.

6th. Finally, all other precepts which the rights of nations establish for neutrals will be faithfully observed. The grand general president expects that these instructions will be complied with, and to this end the secretary of the government, to whom I have the honor to address myself, will please give notice of this communication to the president of the State.