Page:Dramatic Moments in American Diplomacy (1918).djvu/276

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256
DRAMATIC MOMENTS

as the accredited minister plenipotentiary from the now fully recognized Republic of Panama.

No two men ever worked with greater harmony and dispatch than this astonishing ambassador and John Hay. Another grave danger was impending. Panama was sending two of its bombastic citizens to haggle and debate and parade their importance at Washington. After their arrival all accomplishment would have been at the mercy of endless conversation and formal trivialities.

Success in the consummation of the treaty depended upon rapidity of movement.

On Sunday, Nov. 15th, John Hay wrote to Bunau-Varilla:

"Dear Mr. Minister: I enclose a project of a Treaty. Please return it to me with your suggestions at your earliest convenience."

The sequel might be a lesson to all the foreign offices and ambassadors in the world. It is a demonstration of the fact that two capable and fair-minded men can come to an international agreement without interminable formal-