File No. 819.00/417.
The Secretary of State to the American Minister.
Washington, June 28, 1912—1 p.m.
Porras’s supporters are said to be padding election registers in Panama and Colon with men from Chorrera, Arraijan, and Chagres. The [Page 1153] registers used in the municipal elections, it is also reported, will be those used on the national election day. The Department has received this information from the Minister of Panama and transmits it to you for investigation and appropriate action by supervisory committee.
The Minister has further made complaint that you have opposed the making public of a personal letter from the President to Acting President Arosemena thanking him for his congratulations on re-nomination, and he requests the President’s permission to have this letter made public, saying that an exchange of telegrams between the President and Porras has been made public and is being used as political capital. There is no objection to making this letter public, provided it be distinctly understood that both this letter and the telegrams to and from Porras are of a purely personal nature, have absolutely no bearing on the present elections, and can not possibly be distorted into the expression of favor of the United States for one or the other candidate. The attitude of this Government, as is well known, is one of absolute impartiality, its friendship being for the people of Panama and its concern being that the people of Panama shall elect and maintain a good government responsive to its obligations.