FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1942) VOLUME VI



821.00/1434: Telegram
   The Ambassador in Colombhia (Lane) to the Secretary of State

                                  BOGOTA, August 10, 1942-10 p. m.
                                  [Received August 11-4: 35 a. m.]
  1030. Reference my 1024, August 10.23 President Lopez informed
me this afternoon he was much gratified by favorable reception given
his inauguration address. He said in drafting it he had in mind
prime [apparent omission] for Colombia's more active participation
international affairs and intimate to Congress he intended to take it
into his confidence. He said because of foregoing and of Turbay's 24
familiarity with developments Washington he decided to appoint
him Minister Foreign Affairs as it would not be necessary for Turbay
"to attend school" here on international matters.
  In presence Echandia,25 newly appointed Minister of Gobierno,
President expressed to me opinion with reference to two specific mat-
ters I brought up (establishment naval base Cartagena and our intelli-
gence activities in Colombia) that it would be preferable within next
2 or 3 days for him to have a general conversation with members of
Foreign Relations Committee of Senate and House "to sound them
out". After taking this first step L6pez said he would summon me
and discuss advisability as to next procedure. Echandia expressed
agreement with Lopez highly advisable from internal point of view
to have an understanding with congressional leaders regarding oral
agreement reached between President Santos and ourselves (and lat-
ter [later] confirmed by talk between Lopez and Under Secretary
Welles in New York July 24 26) regarding permission for us to enter
Colombian territorial waters and territory in event of an emergency.
  Echandia and Lopez both expressed agreement most delicate matter
we had raised is establishment naval seaplane base in Cartagena. They
indicated delicacy is due to internal political conditions in that dis-
trict. As President indicated he would turn matter over to Secretary
General Ministry Foreign Affairs for study. I am fairly sanguine
there should be no outstanding difficulty, Gonzalez Fernandez already
having expressed himself confidentially to me as being in favor of
project. Both President and Echandia indicated their full under-

23 Not printed.
24 Gabriel Turbay, Colombian Ambassador in the United States, took office
as
Colombian Minister for Foreign Affairs October 31, 1942.
25 Dario Echandia, Colombian Minister of Government and Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
' See memorandum by Ambassador Lane, p. 154.



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