| Search Antiqbook |
Ask a question or
Order this book
Browse our books
Search our books
Book dealer info
PORTER, HORACE, Typed Letter Signed ("Horace Porter"), as U. S. Ambassador to France, to Joseph H. Choate, U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain, concering the Panama Canal.
Paris, 6 august, 1902. (PANAMA CANAL) One page, on letterhead of "Ambassade des Etat-Unis". Very good. ΒΆ Porter, Ambassador to France (1897-1905) writes to his colleague Choate in London: " ... I received your very kind letter of July 31, and appreciate your very cordial congratulations upon my return from my brief visit home. It is not a bad sort of a country to go to and can give the world points on hospitality. (Elihu) Root and I arrived at the front in good order. He left Saturday for Carlsbad to meet his family. I note what you say about Mr. Pratt's offer to place his Panama papers at the service of our Government. I will communicate this to the Attorney-General when he arrives, which I think will be about the end of the month. The transfer of the Panama Canal to us will not require any action on the part of the French Parliament. I think we shall have no trouble in obtaining a clear title ... " Choate, during the summer of 1901, had been instrumental in negotiating an alteration of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty of 1850, which stated that any such canal would be a partnership between the U.S. and Great Britain, and a revised treaty, vesting control in the U.S. on condition of equal treatment to the commerce of all nations, was ratified by the Senate that November. The United States, anxious to have "control, management and ownership" of the Canal, bought out the French interest in the Panama Canal Company for $40 million, based on the value of the work completed and other considerations; President Roosevelt signed the enabling legislation, the Isthmian Canal Bill, on June 28, 1902. Porter (1837-1921) a West Point graduate and Civil War hero, became one of President Grant's military secretaries, subsequently becoming active in railroads and elevated railway lines. Prominent in civic affairs, he was president of the Union League Club and the Sons of the American Revolution; he also spearheaded the drive to raise funds for Grant's Tomb. He was appointed ambassador to France in 1897, serving until 1905, at which time he remained in France and successfully completed his six years search for the body of John Paul Jones, which was returned for burial at Annapolis
Offered for US$ 1250.00 by: James Cummins Bookseller - Book number: 26210