Believe, I beg you, in the sincerity of my appreciation and my thanks
for the courtesy with which you have received me, and for the honor
which you have shown me. When the suggestion was made that upon my
return from a voyage encircling the continent of South America, I should
stop at Cartagena for an interview with you, sir, before returning to my
own country, I accepted with alacrity and with pleasure, because it was
most grateful to me to testify by my presence upon your shores to my
high respect for your great country, the country of Bolivar; to my
sincere desire that all questions which exist between the United States
of Colombia and the United States of America may be settled peacefully,
in the spirit of friendship, of mutual esteem, and with honor to both
countries. Especially, also, I was glad to come to Colombia as an
evidence of my esteem and regard for that noble and great man whom it is
the privilege of Colombia to call her President today--General Reyes. I
have had the privilege of personal acquaintance with him, and I look
upon his conduct of affairs in the chief magistracy of your republic
with the twofold interest of one who loves his fellowmen and desires the
prosperity and happiness of the people of Colombia, and of a personal
regard and friendship for the President himself.
I have been much gratified during my visit to so many of the republics
of South America to find universally the spirit of a new industrial and
commercial awakening, to find a new era of enterprise and prosperity
dawning in the southern continent.
Mr. Minister and gentlemen, it will be the cause of sincere happiness to
me if through the present friendly relations, based upon personal
knowledge acquired here, I may do something toward helping the republic
of Colombia forward along the pathway of the new development of South
America. With your vast agricultural and mineral wealth, with the
incalculable richness of your domain, the wealth and prosperity of
Colombia are sure to come some time. Let us hope that they will come
while we are yet living, in order that you may transfer to your children
not the possibility but the realization of the increased greatness of
your country. Let us hope that some advance of this new era of progress
may come from the pleasant friendships formed today. While I return my
thanks to you for your courtesy, let me assure you that there is nothing
that could give greater pleasure to the President and to the people of
the United States of America than to feel that they may have some part
in promoting the prosperity and the happiness of this sister republic.
I ask you to join me in drinking to the peace, the prosperity, the
order, the justice, the liberty of the republic of Colombia, and long
life and a prosperous career in office to its President--General
Reyes.