Mr. Allan A. Burton to William H. Seward, July 6, 1866

Mr. Burton to Mr. Seward

Sir: After the best consideration I was able to give the subject, it appeared to me that the best reply to be given to the note of the foreign secretary of October 16th, 1865, complaining of the proceedings of Rear-Admiral Pearson at Panama in September last, on the occasion of the burial of the late Consul McKee, was the despatch at length from the department, No. 139. I therefore incorporated it literally in my answer, excepting a few verbal changes to ad apt it to the purpose.

As I still continued to hear of President Mosquera’s repeating his admiration and friendship for Great Britain, and of which I spoke in my No. 244, with an occasional disparaging remark of the people of the United States, it seemed desirable to ascertain the President’s real sentiments if possible, before giving an answer, and to withhold it for the present, or at least the declaration contained in the concluding paragraph of despatch No. 139, in case it should turn out that he is really hostile to our country. To this end I had a confidential interview with a government official, not the foreign secretary, but of much greater influence in the administration, a former adviser of General Mosquera and friend of our country, in which I said, that this course of General Mosquera since his return from Europe had given me no concern whatever except so far as it might be calculated to make wrong impressions among Colombians. That the United States cherished the most fraternal feelings towards this country, and their highest interest in it was its well being; but at the same time were prepared to dispense with the friendship of any country which they could not have on terms of mutual interest and respect; and if General Mosquera was really sincere in his declarations in this respect, and which it seemed to me he had taken pains to repeat on unnecessary occasions and with unnecessary frequency of late, and Colombia following his lead should choose to go after strange gods, the United States, although her natural friend and ally, could have no other interest than to conform their conduct to the exigencies of an emergency so unnatural, unexpected, and unwelcome.

He answered that he had deeply lamented this uncalled-for and unwise conduct of General Mosquera, but that he was sure that it did not proceed from any unkind feelings for the United States entertained by the general; that his late course here and in England was the result purely of the cupidity of old age; that from one of the most generous and unselfish of men he had become one of the most sordid and avaricious; that it was humiliating to know that his whole late proceedings in England had been dictated by selfish and unworthy motives; that he really believed his mind was unsettled, and that the Colombian people would resist by revolution before the ruinous and unauthorized contracts entered into by the general in London should be imposed upon the nation; and further, that a revolution would be the sure consequence of a policy on the part of the national administration which might justly interrupt the present good understanding between the two countries.

I believe this gentleman was correct in the foregoing opinions.

On the same day of this conversation the British minister called to speak with me about an unacceptable note addressed him by the foreign secretary. In the course of the interview he said that “Mosquera is putting on airs, affecting the ways and style of an emperor. He pretends to be very much in love with everything British about this time, because he wants more money. Should the congress confirm his London loan contract not a single shilling could be raised on it. I am very much inclined to believe all his London contracts mere shams.”

I am disposed to think the minister was sincere in this statement and that it has some foundation.

Taking all the circumstances into consideration, I decided to send in my reply containing the whole of the despatch No. 139, and I believe its acceptance by the Colombian government has justified my decision. See C, hereto annexed.

Two days after receiving the acknowledgment of my note, I called on the President and was flatteringly received. He expressed himself much gratified at the stand taken by the United States, and requested me to say that he had written the answer to my note with his own hand. He said he would reprimand the President of Panama as he deserved. The interview was quite satisfactory.

Although General Mosquera’s opponents generally, and a considerable number of his well-informed friends, have repeatedly asserted to me that he is certainly unfriendly to our country, I have not yet felt that I would be justified in adopting this conclusion; and moreover, if he holds such sentiments, circumstances are not favorable to his allowing them to influence his action. Be his feelings or purposes what they may, however, his late proceedings in England, if carried out, must be prejudicial to us. In connection with this subject I beg to refer to my Nos. 249, 250, 251, 252, and 253.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,