Letter from Noemi Sanin, Ambassador of Colombia in Spain to Maria Elvira Quintana, Director of Cultural Affairs of the International Relations Ministry of Colombia, asking the government for exact directions. (Translated by Andres Felipe Garcia Ospina)

COLOMBIAN EMBASY

E. 600

Madrid, May 3rd, 2003
Mrs,
María Elvira Quintana
Director of Cultural Affairs
International Relations Ministry
Bogota D.C.

I am writing in response of your communication with reference number DAC 16865 dated may 6, 2003, about the Quindio’s History Academy initiative of sending a letter to the President of Spanish Government on the possible repatriation of the “Treasure of the Quimbayas”, now located at the Madrid Museum, previously donated to the Spanish Crown.

Starting from the premise that on international matters the official position of the Government is established by the President of the Republic and his Chancellor, and keeping in mind that the remittance of the mentioned letter by a diplomatic via could been understood as a support of the Colombian Government to this subject, we are asking for precise directions on this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Noemí Sanin Posada
Ambassador of Colombia

Letter addressed to Carolina Barco, International Relations Minister of Colombia from the Quindio’s Academy of History. (Translated by Andres Felipe Garcia Ospina)

Mrs
CAROLINA BARCO
International Relations Minister
San Carlos’ Palace
Bogota

Dear Minister,

Since 100 years ago, The famous Treasure of the Quimbayas has been in the Museum of America in Madrid. The treasure went out from our country to be showed at the exhibitions for the 4th Centenary of The Discovery of America. This cultural patrimony was given on May 4th 1893 by the diplomatic office in Madrid to Regent Queen, with an official letter signed by the Foreign Relations Minister, Marco Fidel Suarez.

Carlos Holguin, President in charge of Colombia (1886-1892) bought the best lot of pieces from Quindio in order to exhibit them in Madrid during the commemoration of the Centenary. Then, by means of diplomatic note of his mandate, he gave the treasure to the Spanish Government, specifically to the king’s Alfonso XII wife, the Regent Queen Maria Cristina, “as a testimony of thankfulness” for her help in a bordering clash with our Venezuelan neighbors. Since then, this valuable lot took the name of “Treasure of The Quimbayas” as an evidence of the splendor of the native cultures in America.

The treasure, nowadays located in the Museum of America in Madrid, also has a symbolic meaning: in 1886 Colombia became the last nation in reinstating its diplomatic relations with Spain, after the Independence war. There was a feeling of the necessity of a fraternal approach with the Spanish Crown and it seemed that the gesture of the President Holguin giving such riches, could consolidate those friendships.

The treasure, -122 prehispanic goldsmithing pieces- was found during the archaeological sacking executed by the Quindio’s plunderers in 1890, at an excavation called La Soledad located in the surrounding area of the municipalities of Quimbaya and Filandia. Other part of the treasure, made up of 74 Quimbaya pieces, was given to the city of Chicago for the celebration of the Discovery of America made at the same time in the USA, which should be the subject of a similar reclamation to the city major, Richard Daley.

Dear Minister:

The Quindio’s Academy of History wishes, with your mediation, to send the attached letter to the President of The Spanish State, José María Aznar, which is signed not only for our institution academics but also for a group of people who decided to join our cause with this petition.

We believe it is futile to emphasize the characteristics of our solicitude, not only for the cultural patrimony of our nation but also for the “coffee axis” region. For more than 100 years, the eyes of the people from Quindio have never seen this treasure and we think it is pretty fair to let it come back to its birthplace in the same way that many pieces returned by other countries, thanks to the cultural conventions of UNESCO, followed for both countries, Colombia and Spain.

Kindest regards,

JAIME LOPERA GUTIERREZ
President

MARTA LUCIA USAQUEN RAMOS
Executive Secretary