and had thereafter asked him his opinion thereof; he had replied that he did not agree with Haskell's position, observing that, as he remembered it, when the United States took over Florida in 1819, all claimants to private property were compelled to exhibit their titles; that he could not advise the Colombian Government to accept the principle that a mere two-year possession put the possessor in a privileged position as far as the Government's claim to the land in question was concerned. He felt that all claimants should have the same right to exhibit their proofs. Respectfully yours, JEFFERSON CAFFERY 821.6363/981: Telegram The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] BOGOTÁ, December 13, 1930-7 p. m. [Received 9: 40 p. m.] 141. Today the President informed me that the petroleum bill, as recommended by Rublee and approved by me, had received the unanimous approval of the Council of Ministers and the Interparliamentary Petroleum Commission and would be sent to Congress next week. CAFFERY 821.6363/999 The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State No. 2059 BOGOTÁ, January 2, 1931. [Received January 15.] SIR: Referring to my recent reports having to do with the work of Mr. Rublee here, and with special reference to my despatch No. 2051 of December 31, 1930,10 in which I said that President Olaya had told him that he hoped to have his latest recommendations accepted by the Interparliamentary Petroleum Commission and introduced by them in both houses of Congress as amendments to the bill, I have the honor to report that Dr. Olaya sent me word yesterday that all the members of the Interparliamentary Petroleum Commission had agreed to include in the bill Mr. Rublee's additional recommendations (as set out in his memorandum transmitted with my despatch No. 2042 of December 27, 1930).10 Respectfully yours, 10 Not printed. JEFFERSON CAFFERY 821.6363/1019 The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State No. 2115 BOGOTÁ, January 14, 1931. [Received January 28.] SIR: Referring to my recent reports having to do with the oil bill, and especially to those despatches having to do with recently developed opposition to that project, I have the honor to report that President Olaya continues to assure me that he fully appreciates that it is essential for the renewing of the prosperity of this country to have a satisfactory oil law on the statute books, and . . . that he is using every effort to persuade members of the two houses of Congress to appreciate the situation also. Respectfully yours, JEFFERSON CAFFERY 821.6363/1012: Telegram The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] BOGOTÁ, January 28, 1931-11 a. m. [Received 2: 55 p. m.] 10. My 7, January 26, 4 p. m." The petroleum bill as approved by Rublee... was passed by the Senate in the third debate on January 26 and introduced and passed in the first debate in the House on January 27. CAFFERY 821.6363/1048 The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State No. 2183 BOGOTÁ, January 31, 1931. [Received February 14.] SIR: Referring to my despatch No. 2175 of January 29," transmitting a copy of the protest signed by representatives of the Texas Oil Company, the South American Gulf Oil Company, and of the Sinclair Exploration Company, in connection with the oil bill, I have the honor to confirm the statement in my despatch No. 2175 that Mr. Rublee was not bringing this memorandum to the attention of President Olaya Herrera, because he did not consider the objections embodied therein, in general, as either well-founded or serious. Also, "Not printed. as the record now shows, some of the statements made therein are clearly misleading; and some are inaccurate. Respectfully yours, JEFFERSON CAFFERY 821.6363/1049 The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State No. 2184 15 BOGOTÁ, January 31, 1931. [Received February 14.] SIR: Referring to my despatches No. 2060 of January 2, and No. 2150 of January 23,14 transmitting copies of some observations on the oil bill made by Mr. Samuel Haskell, local representative of the Texas Oil Company, to my despatch No. 2159 of January 26,15 transmitting some observations on the oil bill made by Judge Feuille, legal representative of the Standard Oil Company of California, and to my despatch No. 2182 of today's date, transmitting a memorandum on the oil bill prepared by Mr. William T. Wallace, Vice President of the Gulf Companies, I have the honor to report that, as the oil bill in its present state will show, a number of changes recommended by these three representatives were made in the oil bill while it was before the Senate. These changes were made owing to their being recommended by Mr. Rublee. The recommendations of Mr. Haskell, Judge Feuille and Mr. Wallace to which no reference was made in the Senate were recommendations which were not approved by Mr. Rublee. I have been interested to note that Mr. Haskell's is the only one of the three memoranda which lays much stress on the articles having to do with titles on private property (as they now stand written in the bill); and this, in spite of the fact that both the South American Gulf Oil Company and the Standard Oil Company of California are interested in operations on privately owned lands. Respectfully yours, 821.6363/1064 JEFFERSON CAFFERY The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State No. 2226 BOGOTÁ, February 12, 1931. [Received February 25.] SIR: Referring to my recent reports concerning the progress of the oil bill in the Colombian Congress, I have the honor to report that I have felt constrained, during the past two months, tactfully and personally to keep before Dr. Olaya the importance of his securing adequate oil legislation at this time, as well as the expediency of his coming to an agreement with the interested American oil concerns in relation to the Barco dispute. I apprehend that, had I not been regularly doing this, Dr. Olaya might have let both matters drop for the present, as, although he continues to have tremendous good will for the United States and our interests, he seems more and more inclined to let matters drift when there is no impelling reason for him to do otherwise. He dislikes fighting and it has been clear for a long time that, even with the amazing change throughout Colombia in sentiment in our regard, those two projects could never be put through Congress unless an effective driving force of the Executive Power were put behind them. The oil bill is meeting with considerable opposition in the House of Deputies now, and unless the President takes a firm stand in the premises, it will be altered out of all recognition by that body; therefore, I am endeavoring tactfully to have him see the importance of assembling his forces, with a view to having the House pass the bill in its present form. Dr. Olaya's principal power lies in the fact that the mass of the people do rely on him to bring back economic prosperity to the country, and, although it is plainer every day that the politicians in general will oppose him if they dare, he (at any rate, up to now) by threatening to appeal over their heads to the Nation, can still accomplish wonders.... Respectfully yours, JEFFERSON CAFFERY 821.6363/1059: Telegram The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State BOGOTÁ, February 20, 1931-3 p. m. [Received 5:25 p. m.] 18. My telegram number 12, February 11, 6 p. m.16 Olaya sent a message to the House Wednesday urging deputies to expedite consideration of the oil bill. Up to last night House had approved 19 articles. CAFFERY 15 Not printed. 591381-46-VOL. II 821.6363/1060: Telegram The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] BOGOTÁ, February 25, 1931—6 p. m. [Received 9:40 p. m.] 22. My 18, February 20, 3 p. m. Petroleum bill approved February 23 by large majority of the House. It was sent to committee for putting in due form and should receive vote today in second debate. CAFFERY 821.6363/1067: Telegram The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] BOGOTÁ, February 26, 1931-10 a. m. [Received 1:30 p. m.] 23. My 16, February 14, 11 a. m.18 Upon the request of President Olaya, Rublee has decided to remain in Colombia until March 26 in order to assist in drawing up regulating decrees under the new petroleum law. CAFFERY 821.6363/1068: Telegram The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] BOGOTÁ, February 26, 1931-5 p. m. [Received 7:45 p. m.] 25. My 22, February 25, 6 p. m. The final minor changes we wanted were made yesterday by the House on motion of the Minister of Industries and the bill passed in second debate. CAFFERY 821.6363/1071: Telegram The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] BOGOTÁ, February 27, 1931-11 a. m. [Received 3:10 p. m.] 26. My 25, February 26, 5 p. m. The petroleum bill passed by House yesterday in third debate. It returns today to the Senate, 18 Not printed. |