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Paul-Herboso protocol, is by mutual agreement reduced to £20,000 sterling. Therefore, from the total amount should be deducted, £7,000 interest and £10,000 principal.

2. The payment of this £20,000 sterling shall be made in ten installments of £2,000 each month, the first payment to be made not later than October 5, proximo.

3. Payment shall be made in drafts on London drawn to the order of the manager of the South American Steamship Company, and at not to exceed thirty days' sight. They shall be delivered to the Chilean legation in Bogota. 4. The drafts referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be exempt from payment for stamps and in general from any Colombian tax.

In faith whereof we sign the present protocol and seal it with our personal seals. [L. S.]

Approved. [L. S.]

A. VASQUEZ COBO.
E. RODRIGUEZ MENDOZA.

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE, Bogota, October 2, 1907.

R. REYES.

A. VASQUEZ COBO,

The Minister of Foreign Relations.

PROVISION FOR THE ASSEMBLING OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL

File 5025/6-7.

No. 183.]

CONGRESS.

Chargé Heimké to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogota, April 22, 1907. I have the honor to transmit herewith, in duplicate, a clipping from the Diario Oficial of this city, of the 17th instant, and, also in duplicate, a translation of a decree passed by the national constituent and legislative assembly in its session of the 3d instant, and approved by the President of the Republic of Colombia on the 15th of the present month, making provision for the assembling of the next constitutional congress, which is to meet, once in every two years, at this capital; that its ordinary sessions shall be ninety days in duration; that the initial date for the meeting of the first Congress is fixed for the 1st of February, 1910, "although the executive power may anticipate, or the assembly, by the enactment of a law, postpone the same if the public interests should so demand;" and that until the time of the assembling of the first Congress before mentioned the national constitutent and legislative assembly will continue to exercise the legislative functions which, by the constitution, appertain to the Congress in extraordinary sessions.

Although the general public, at the time of the convocation of the national assembly, now sitting in extraordinary session, had hoped that Congress would be convened at some time during the present year, the above named decree, fixing the date of its first meeting for the 1st of February, 1910-three years hence has been calmly received by the masses throughout the country, so far as has been ascertained, and without the faintest sign of dissatisfaction or disappointment; or, in other words, the decree has been accepted in a practical sense as a matter of fact, and unlike the enactment of similar measures in previous years, which is considered as an index of the present sensible and peacefully inclined spirit of the people, who have come to regard the rule of President Reyes as wise and for the best interests of the

country, and whose sincerity in this respect is neither doubted nor questioned by those who know the character of the present progressive Chief Executive of Colombia.

I have, etc.,

WM. HEIMKÉ.

[Inclosure. Translation.]

[From the Diario Oficial, of Bogota, Colombia, of April 17, 1907.]

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY-LEGISLATIVE ACT No. 1 of 1907 (APRIL 15)-SUBSTITUTING LEGISLATIVE ACT No. 2 OF 1905.

The national constitutent and legislative assembly decrees:

ARTICLE 1. Hereafter legislative chambers will meet in their own right every two years, on the 1st day of February, in the capital of the Republic.

ART. 2. The ordinary sessions will last ninety days, after which the Government may declare the chambers in recess.

ART. 3. The initial date for the meeting of the first constitutional Congress will be the 1st of February, 1910, although the executive power may anticipate. or the assembly, by the enactment of a law, postpone the same if the public interests should so demand.

The decree convening elections for members of Congress will be issued by the Government with due anticipation, in order that the chambers may meet on the date named in article 1.

Art. 4. (Transitory.) Until the time of the assembling of the first Congress referred to in the preceding article, the national constitutent and legislative assembly will continue to exercise the legislative functions which, by the constitution, appertain to Congress in extraordinary sessions, and separately to the Senate and to the Chamber of Representatives, and those of the constituent assembly named in article 8 of reformatory act No. 9 of 1905.

The executive power may convene the assembly in extraordinary session whenever he considers it expedient.

ART. 5. The provisions of the present decree take the place of legislative act No. 2 of 1905 and article 68 of the constitution. Given at Bogota, on the 3d of April, 1907.

EXECUTIVE POWER, BOGOTA, April 15, 1907.

Let it be published and executed.

The Minister of Government,

DIONISIO JIMENEZ,

The President. GIRADO ARRUBLA,

The Secretary.

AURELIO RUEDA A.,

The Secretary.

R. REYES. [SEAL.] D. EUCLIDES DE ANGULO.

CUBA.

CUBAN BONDS OF JUNE 1, 1869.

File No. 7622/1.

No. 143.]

The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Morgan.

a

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, July 18, 1907.

SIR: I inclose a copy of a letter from Mr. F. W. Bacot, of Charleston, S. C., making inquiries concerning the value of a Cuban bond. A copy of the bond is also inclosed.

You are requested to ascertain the value of the bond and to return the copy thereof to the department with your reply.

am, etc.,

ROBERT BACON.

[Inclosure. Translation.]
Copy of bond.

The Republic of Cuba, through José Morales Lemus, president of the Central Republican Junta of Cuba and Porto Rico, acting under special authority, hereby acknowledges itself bound to the bearer in the sum of $500, with interest thereon at the rate of 7 per centum per annum from date hereof, said interest to be paid at the times and upon the conditions following, viz, after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the Government of Spain and the Republic of Cuba, or after the overthrow of the authority of the Spanish Government in the island of Cuba, or after the recognition by the Government of the United States of America of the political independence of the island of Cuba, and on the 31st day of July of the year succeeding that on which such ratification, overthrow of Spanish authority, or recognition of independence should take place, the said Republic will pay in the city of New York the interest then accrued hereon, and thereafter will so pay as well the interest accruing hereon semiannually on the 31st days of January and July in each year, as the said principal sum of $500, ten years after the first payment of interest. The Government of said Republic reserves the right to pay the principal hereof on any interest day succeeding the first payment of interest. And to the performance and payment of this obligation the honor and faith of the people of Cuba is hereby pledged in the name of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, President of the Republic.

New York, this 1st day of June, A. D. 1869.

File No. 7622/2-4.

No. 486.]

Minister Morgan to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION,
Habana, July 29, 1907.

SIR: In the department's No. 143, of the 18th instant (file No. 7622/1), with which was inclosed copy of a letter from Mr. F. W.

a Not printed.

Bacot, of Charleston, S. C., the legation was instructed to ascertain the value of a Cuban bond dated June 1, 1869, for the payment of which was pledged "the honor and faith of the people of Cuba in the name of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, President of the Republic." I have now the honor to inclose copy in translation of a note received from the Cuban foreign office, in which it is stated that the bond in question has no value whatsoever. Transitory Rule No. 1, under Title XIV, amendments to the constitution, states:

The Republic of Cuba does not recognize any other debts and obligations than those legitimately contracted in behalf of the revolution by the corps commanders of the liberating army subsequent to the 24th day of February, 1895, and prior to the 19th day of September of the same year, the date on which the Jimaguayu constitution was promulgated, and such debts and obligations as the revolutionary government may have contracted subsequently, either by itself or through its legitimate representatives in foreign countries. Congress shall classify said debts and obligations and decide as to the payment of those that may be legitimate.

I have, etc.,

[Inclosure. Translation.]

EDWIN V. MORGAN.

No. 599.]

The Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs to Minister Morgan.

REPUBLIC OF CUBA, DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Habana, July 25, 1907.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your note, No. 183, of the 23d instant, in which you inclose copy in Spanish and English of a Cuban bond dated June 1, 1869, of which you desire information as to its face value and interest.

In reply, I have the honor to inform your excellency that regarding the said bond the Republic of Cuba can assume no responsibility, since it is provided in the first of the transitory rules of the constitution that

"The Republic of Cuba does not recognize any other debts and obligations than those legitimately contracted in behalf of the revolution by the corps commanders of the liberating army subsequent to the 24th day of February, 1895, and prior to the 19th day of September of the same year, the date on which the Jimaguayu constitution was promulgated, and such debts and obligations as the revolutionary government may have contracted subsequently, either by itself or through its legitimate representatives in foreign countries. Congress shall classify said debts and obligations and decide as to the payment of those that may be legitimate."

I avail, etc.,

JUSTO GARCIA VELEZ,

Acting Head of the Department of State.

File No. 7622/5.

No. 151.]

The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Morgan.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 23, 1907. SIR: The department has received a letter, copy inclosed, from Mr. Chauncey Lobingier, of Pittsburg, Pa., inquiring as to the value of three certificates issued by the Republic of Cuba, June 1, 1869.

The department understands that, in view of title 14 of the transitory rules of the constitution of Cuba, these certificates have no value. I should be glad to learn whether there has been any change in their

status.

I am, etc.,

ROBERT BACON.

File No. 7622/6.

No. 549.]

Chargé Turner to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION,
Habana, October 29, 1907.

SIR: Replying to the department's instruction No. 151 (file No. 7622/5) of the 23d instant, with which was inclosed copy of a letter from Mr. Chauncey Lobingier inquiring about the value of three certificates issued by the Republic of Cuba, dated June 1, 1869, and signed by the treasurer and secretary of the junta, in which the Republic of Cuba pledges itself to pay the amount of money mentioned in the body of the certificate, either after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the Government of Spain and the Republic of Cuba, or after the overthrow of the authority of the Spanish Government in the island of Cuba, or after the recognition by the Government of the United States of America of the political independence of the island of Cuba, I have the honor to state that on inquiry at the Cuban foreign office I have been informed that these certificates are of no value, and that transitory rule No. 1, under Title XIV, amendments to the constitution, "The Republic of Cuba does not recognize any other debts and obligations than those legitimately contracted in behalf of the revolution by the corps commanders of the liberating army subsequent to the 24th day of February, 1895, and prior to the 19th day of September of the same year, the date on which the Jimaguayu constitution was promulgated, and such debts and obligations as the revolutionary government may have contracted subsequently, either by itself or through its legitimate representatives in foreign countries. Congress shall classify said debts and obligations and decide as to the payment of those that may be legitimate is still in force.

I have, etc.,

A. CAMPBELL TURNER.

PROVISION FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS GROWING OUT OF THE LATE CUBAN INSURRECTION.

File No. 2784/1.

No. 279.]

Minister Morgan to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Habana, November 26, 1906.

SIR: I have the honor to inclose, in duplicate, an extract from the Official Gazette of the 23d instant, which contained decree No. 158 of the provisional governor, relative to the collection of evidence and the settlement of claims arising against the Government of Cuba by reason of the recent insurrection in this island.

Although the personnel of the claims commission has not been announced, it is understood that it will be composed of two officers of the army of pacification and one judge of the audiencia of Habana. The American members will probably be Maj. Francis J. Kernan and Capt. George W. Read, of the general staff, and the Cuban official judge, Manuel Landa y Gonzalez. EDWIN V. MORGAN.

I have, etc.,

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