711.1928/281

The Panamanian Minister (Alfaro) to the Secretary of State

[Translation]

Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that by Decree No. 26 of the 15th instant the President of the Republic of Panama saw fit to appoint a Commission, to which has been entrusted the mission of furthering the negotiations with the United States leading to the conclusion of the treaties or conventions permanently regulating the relations created between the two countries by the construction of the Canal.

The Commission has been made up of Messrs. Doctor Carlos L. Lopez, former Secretary of Gobierno and Justice and Second Designate [Page 593] to exercise the Executive Power, Doctor Nareiso Garay, present Secretary of Public Instruction and former Secretary of Foreign Relations, and the undersigned, who will preside over it. Mr. Ernesto de la Guardia, who was also appointed a member of the Commission, did not accept the position. Mr. Eugenio J. Chevalier was appointed Secretary of the Commission.

Doctors López and Garay are coming with the rank of Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary, and Mr. Chevalier has been given the classification of Secretary of Legation of Class One.

In due time I shall have the honor to inform Your Excellency of the arrival of Messrs. Garay and Lopez.

I take this opportunity [etc.]

R. J. Alfaro