which will consider the House's modifications which were made. because they were recommended by Rublee. CAFFERY 821.6363/1072: Telegram The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] BOGOTÁ, March 4, 1931—6 p. m. [Received 8:54 p. m.] 30. My 26, February 27, 11 a. m. President today signed the petroleum bill as approved by Rublee... Both of us consider it to be a good, practical, workable law. CAFFERY 821.6363/1100 The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State No. 2316 BOGOTÁ, March 5, 1931. [Received March 18.] SIR Referring to my despatch No. 2226 of February 13 [12], in which I stated that I had felt constrained during the previous 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 have the honor to report that President Olaya, a short time after my despatch No. 2226 was written, changed his whole attitude in so far as he had been letting matters drift; and recovered practically all of his former activity and determination. As I have remarked before, he is inclined to let matters drift, but when necessary can display both strength of character and force. In effect, he did so in the present instances. He made it clear that he meant to have an adequate oil law on the statute books and meant to come to an agreement with the interested American oil concerns in the matter of the Barco controversy. When the politicians of Congress saw that he really meant what he said, they rapidly fell into line; and whereas the oil bill had been pitifully dragging along day by day, once Olaya's position became clear, the remainder (that is, the larger part of the bill) was passed article by article without counting the votes by simply banging on the desks in a manner usual in such cases in the Colombian Congress. In other words, Olaya seems to have recovered all of his old form, I have only praise for his courage and very friendly attitude. Respectfully yours, JEFFERSON CAFFERY 821.6363/1072 The Secretary of State to the Minister in Colombia (Caffery) No. 221 WASHINGTON, March 9, 1931. SIR: The Department refers to your telegram No. 30 of March 4, and previous correspondence concerning petroleum legislation pending in Colombia, and desires to inform you that it has noted with great satisfaction the diligence, tact and discretion which have characterized your informal efforts to assist in bringing about the solution of the delicate and intricate questions involved. The Department is pleased to commend you for your part in the successful termination of a matter of such importance to American interests. Very truly yours, 821.6363/1111 For the Secretary of State: The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State No. 2376 BOGOTÁ, March 24, 1931. [Received April 3.] SIR: Referring to my previous reports concerning the work here of Mr. George Rublee in connection with oil matters (File No. 801.A Rublee), I have the honor to report that, as set out in my telegram No. 28 of February 28,19 Mr. Rublee expects to leave Bogotá on the 26th instant to return to the United States. I desire to take the occasion to say that Mr. Rublee's stay here has been an unqualified success; in fact, without him, I should not have been able to secure as satisfactory an oil bill as the one which was recently approved by Congress; nor would I have been able to bring about the signing of as satisfactory a contract as is the Barco contract signed on March 5. His unusual intelligence and tact have won for him here the very general esteem and admiration of all classes; and it is worthy to note that the President of the Republic, the Minister of Industries, the Consulting Attorney of the Office of the Secretary General of the Republic, Dr. Latorre, and Dr. Carlos A. Urueta (especially), all seem genuinely sorry to see him go. Respectfully yours, JEFFERSON CAFFERY 821.6363/1117 The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State No. 2381 BOGOTÁ, March 26, 1931. [Received April 15.] SIR: Referring to my despatch No. 2376 of March 24 (File No. 801.A Rublee), in which I spoke of the excellent work which had Not printed. been done here by Mr. Rublee, I have the honor to report that President Olaya took the occasion yesterday to ask me to express to the Department of State his appreciation of what Mr. Rublee had done. He said that Mr. Rublee had been "more than satisfactory;" the Government was delighted with what he had done, both in connection with the oil law and in connection with the signing of the Barco contract. Respectfully yours, 821.6363/1140: Telegram JEFFERSON CAFFERY The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State BOGOTÁ, June 10, 1931-3 p. m. [Received 5:35 p. m.] 78. President Olaya tells me he forwarded by air mail Friday 20 copy of draft of proposed oil bill regulations to Rublee for any comment he may care to make before they are issued. CAFFERY 821.6363/1148: Telegram The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Acting Secretary of State BOGOTÁ, July 24, 1931-11 a. m. [Received 5:13 p. m.] 100. Regulating decree under the oil law will probably be published in Diario Oficial today. The date for receiving proposals formerly fixed August 1st will be extended to September 1st; October 15 remaining fixed for the other proposals. [Paraphrase.] If the regulating decree is published in the form President Olaya said he was accepting yesterday, it will be highly satisfactory. The extension to September 1st was made at the suggestion of Mr. Metzger. [End paraphrase.] CAFFERY 821.6363/1151 : Telegram The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Acting Secretary of State [Paraphrase] BOGOTÁ, July 29, 1931-2 p. m. [Received 5:09 p. m.] 102. My 100, July 24, 11 a. m. President Olaya and Minister of Industries have signed petroleum regulating decree. The decree, * June 5. however, has not yet been published in the Diario. It is highly satisfactory. Please inform Mr. Rublee. CAFFERY 821.6363/1152: Telegram The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Acting Secretary of State [Paraphrase] BOGOTÁ, July 30, 1931—5 p. m. [Received 7: 10 p. m.] 103. My 102, July 29, 2 p. m. Petroleum regulating decree was published yesterday. It is highly satisfactory. Please inform Mr. Rublee. CAFFERY SETTLEMENT OF THE BARCO PETROLEUM CONTROVERSY " 821.6363 Barco/424 The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State No. 2105 BOGOTÁ, January 13, 1931. [Received January 28.] SIR: Referring to my previous reports concerning the desire of President Olaya to have Mr. Rublee 22 start studying the Barco matter as soon as practicable, I have the honor to report that President Olaya handed to Mr. Rublee on Saturday last a number of papers having to do with the Barco matter, and requested him to begin his study of the question at once. Respectfully yours, 821,6363 Barco/421 JEFFERSON CAFFERY The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State No. 2117 BOGOTÁ, January 15, 1931. [Received January 28.] SIR: Referring to my recent reports concerning the Barco concession, and especially to my despatch No. 2105 of January 13, in which I reported that Mr. Rublee was engaged in studying the whole matter, I have the honor to report that Mr. Rublee began, the day before yesterday, informal conferences with Mr. Clarence S. T. Folsom, local representative of the South American Gulf Oil Company, in an at "For previous correspondence concerning the Barco petroleum concession, see Foreign Relations, 1928, vol. II, pp. 603 fr. * George Rublee, Petroleum Adviser to the Colombian Government. See pp. 1 ff. tempt to find a formula for a contract for developing the Barco Concession, satisfactory both to the Colombian authorities and to the South American Gulf Oil Company. Mr. Rublee began yesterday also conferences with Mr. Roscoe B. Gaither, the local representative of the American Maracaibo Company, in regard to the claims of that company in connection with the Barco matter. Respectfully yours, JEFFERSON CAFFERY 821.6363 Barco/417: Telegram The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] BOGOTÁ, January 16, 1931-6 p. m. [Received 8 p. m.] 5. Last Monday, January 12, Rublee took up the Barco case. He finds royalty matter to be the principal difficulty. Gulf offers 51⁄2 percent at port while Government wants 6 percent, which would be zone royalty, Minister of Industries says, under the new petroleum bill. Chaux states that Congress would never approve a lower royalty. Rublee is still studying the matter. President's agents are tactfully sounding out Congressmen today to find out how far the Government can go. He realizes that the high cost of pipe-line construction has a direct bearing on royalty in this case. CAFFERY 821.6363 Barco/420: Telegram The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] BOGOTÁ, January 26, 1931-6 p. m. [Received 9 p. m.] 9. My 5, January 16, 6 p. m. Over a week ago Folsom telegraphed to his principals setting forth the situation and stating that the Government of Colombia believed with the royalty question settled an agreement on the rest of the proposed contract could be easily reached. President Olaya is anxious to expedite negotiations because he does not want to hold Congress in session later than February. Rublee hopes that the Department can intimate to the Gulf the desirability of a quick decision. The Minister of Industries still insists that Congress will never agree to a lower royalty than 6 percent. CAFFERY |