File No. 2491/31.

The Acting Secretary of State to the Costa Rican Minister on Special Mission.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 9th instant, in which, referring to your conversation with the Secretary of State on the 4th instant, you give the present status of the boundary controversy between Costa Rica and Panama, and request the department to use its good offices with the Government of Panama to bring about an arbitration by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States or by one of the Associate Justices of that court of said boundary controversy.

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In reply, I have the honor to say that the department will take the matter up at once with the Government of Panama and endeavor to secure the arbitration desired by the Government of Costa Rica.

Accept, etc.,

Robert Bacon.