(Transcription of the original manuscript, 1864)
United States of Colombia
National Executive Power
Ministry of the Interior and Foreign Affairs - Department of Foreign Affairs - First Section - Number 16. Mr. Justo Arosmena - Lima.
Mr. Burton, Minister of the United States of America, has informed and recommended to this Government a project for the establishment of a telegraph line which, starting from the mouth of the Amur River in Central Asia, will reach the Russian possessions in America, cross the British possessions, and, passing through the United States, will proceed to Colón, from where it will continue through Cartagena, Santa Marta, Maracaibo, La Guaira, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, cross the Andes Mountains, and return along the entire Pacific coast to Panama. This project, conceived by a Mr. Collins, who was the United States' commercial agent on the Amur River, has already obtained the support of Russia and Great Britain and is decidedly protected by the Government of the United States. It is therefore important that the Governments of the other American territories protect and encourage it. It is already clear that those of Chile and Peru can do so effectively. Mr. Burton himself has informed this Government that an agent of Mr. Collins is currently visiting the capital cities to discuss this matter with the Governments; And if you are there or arrive later, the President wishes you to see him, to promise him the support of this Government, and to assist him in his dealings with that Republic, striving to ensure that nothing is omitted so that the telegraph line from Panama to Valparaíso may be installed as soon as possible. Perhaps it would be most appropriate for the Continental Congress to undertake the concessions that the undertaking requires, because nothing would contribute so much to activating and strengthening the relations of the Continent as this telegraph line. It would be most gratifying to see the Continental Congress taking an interest in and liberally supporting the undertaking to connect these nations by means of the telegraph. Bogotá, November 8, 1864. (Signed) Antonio del Real.
This interesting manuscript is part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts collections of the National Library of Venezuela.
