Melquiades Valderrama to Thomas O. Osborn, December 23, 1880

Mr. Valderrama to Mr. Osborn.

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that on the 3d of September last a convention “ad referendum” was entered into at the city of Bogota by the minister of foreign relations of Colombia and the chargé d’affaires of Chili near that republic, copy of which accompanies the present, by the terms of which both countries agree to submit to arbitration the decision of all questions that may arise between them and which it may be found impossible to decide by diplomacy.

My government has no hesitancy in accepting the principle of arbitration thus established, and will submit the convention to the National Congress.

With regard to the designation of His Excellency the President of the United States of America as umpire in the cases specified in article II, my government hopes that it will not prove unacceptable to your excellency’s government, and that in it your government will see a reciprocation of the many and strong proofs of friendly feeling that Chili has received from it.

Notwithstanding these marks of confidence, I am directed by His Excellency the President of the republic, in bringing this subject to your notice, to inquire whether the Government of the United States will give a favorable consideration to the selection which has been made of the President of the Union for the cases referred to.

I avail myself of the occasion to renew the assurance of my distinguished consideration.