Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1912

File No. 819.00/428.

The Secretary of State to the American Minister.

[Telegram.—Paraphrase.]

Department of State,
Washington, July 11, 1912.

Action reported in your 149, 152, and 153 approved. Regarding your July 9, the Panaman Minister has requested of the President the postponement of next Sunday’s election; he makes several charges of partiality against the supervising committee, none of which the Department considers well founded. This Government will not, as at present advised, take part in postponing the election.

The Minister to-day endeavored to demonstrate that Panama would be ruined if the Government candidate did not succeed. He was told that this Government had full confidence in the supervising committee and proposed to stand by it; that this Government would perform the obligation which it had assumed at the specific request of both parties and of the Government of Panama to see that fair elections were held throughout Panama.

You will so inform the President of Panama and insist that he comply with his agreement that the supervising committee shall have control of the police.

Knox.