National Republican., 1880-05-17
FROM CENTRAL AMERICA.
An Official Visit to the President of
Panama.
An Unfavorable Impression Made by Minis
ter Deicinnau-1he Mission of Unitod
States War Vessels EXplsined-The
Adams aud Koarsnrge Ordered
to Retire immediately
The Coaling Station.

a Possible international Misunderstanding.
PANAMA, May THE United States steamship
tennessee arrived at ASpinwal on tho 18th instant
bringing as passenger the Hon. Ernest Dcchman
United States minister. resident III Colombia On
the 9th instant. this gentleman. in company with
the United States consulsa at Aspinwall aud Panama
paid formal visit TO the president of the state the
Hon. Damnso Cerversa There were present ut the
interview the secretaries Of the government and of
the treasury, and the national Interpreter. Mr.
Diechman did not employ the services OF the latter
gentleman, but at once launched out in
general dissertation on canal matters aud
the coNlng station business In the Span
ish language which his companions, tho
consuls referred to, did not understand. Mr..
Diechlnan employed the principal portion Of his
time in condemning canal project which was
undertaken by Europeans, and assured tho presl-
dent that the institutions, Language and sover-
eighty of Colombia would be destroyed by tha mni.
titudes Of Frunchmcn and Englishmen who would
flock to the country with the commencement OF
work on the canal His explanation OF the coalng-
station matter unsatisfactory und the result Of
the whole interview, so far as its effects on the
president and secretaries were concerned, was cx
ccedingly unfavorable.
The Panama star aud Herald says Mr. Diochnlan
assured his excelency that the visit of the United
States war vessels Adams and Kearsagc was OF tho
most harmless and innocent character They wcro
occupied in making surveys aud observations veri .
Tying charts aud engaged in other peaceful labors
in accordance with the practice of all modern
nations which are Interested in commerce, pro-
ccedings to which no civilized nation should
object No idea of occupation OF Colombian
territory or aggression on her rights was
contemplated for moment, nor was such
policy limited at In The instructions contained in
the sealed orders issued 10 the commanders of those
vessels by the navy department Mr.. Dicchman
made this statement with the object us he ayerred,
of calming any -ieoling which the circumstance
alluded TO might have created In the country. and
sought to deepen the effect Of his cOncliutory lam
guage by producing copies of tho instructions
n M nIAF iph ia pA MI la,
this. however. he signally failed.
The orders n the commanders of the Kearsargo
and Adams, as shown by the copies Mr.. Diechmau
produced, were to proceed to certain points indi-
Gated on either side the lsthnns of Panama, and
there make arrangements for the establishment of
coallng stations. Should the authorities mako OBJ
lection 10 protest against their proceedings the
matter should be reorred to the department ut
Washington bnt the vessels were to remain until
relieved by other American men-of-war.
The president of tho state us the agent of the
national government by telegraph from DOgota OF
the Goth of April. has received orders to intimate
TO tho commanders of the United States war vcs-
sells Adams and Kearsage if they still remain in
the territorial waters of Colombia, to suspend tho
surveys and other operations In which they arc
engaged in tho Laguna dc Chrlqui and the Gulfo
DulcC. aud from the latter bay the Adams should
retire Immediately as there are in it no ports
which have been opened to commerce according
| 70 the customs and regulations of the republic"
| When the steamer American LEFT Carthageua the
| report was current there that 1000 neil had left
Bogota for the sthmus and were daily expected at
Barranquilla. The purpose of their visit was not
stated but II was supposed TO have some relation
to the coAling. station affair which the Colombian
| government is evidently disposed 10 resent in the
form in which II has been attempted
| The occupation of the Laguna de Chirqui and
the Gulio DulCe by American war vessels was the
theme Of general conversation In Curthageun and
| the nelghboring coast towns, as well rs in tho
| interior. We are Informed from ASpnwall that
| the United States steamer Tennessee win remain
but couple Of days in that port, proceeding
thence to Savanilla TO land there the Hon. ErucS
| DicChmNn, who Is en route TO BOgOtn. The Ter =
ucsscc will touch at Carthagcna and return to A i
pinwull for coal, thence She will continue q o
| cruise to the Laguna de Chiriqui, calling on the
various other points, will return to New York
| Tho Panama board OF health has passed a series
| of resolutions containing tho following:
| although several cases of yellow fever have oc.
Cured In this city among persons not HcCiimRtcd,
II is not considered sufficient to declare said dis
shall be issued until the board OF health declare
| that the disease has assumed an epidemic form."
! The Coquimbo brings the news of the first bonn
| bnrdmcnt Of CullaO OH thc I'd OF April, On the
| afternoon Of that day the BlanCo Eucamda Augl-
mas and HuaScar approached within $3.50 metres
of the shore aud opened fire principally on The
Union and other Peruvian ships which wero
| snugly moored inside the Muclle Darsena.
| one man was killed on board tho Union, but no
special damage to property was reported. Tho
batteries on shore answered the invaders with en-
| thusiaSm, maintaining vigorous fire until 6
| o'clock, when tho ChiliNn ships moved out to join
| the squadron stationed OIL san Lorenzo. The Loa
and other ships with their lpng.rangc guns did not
| put In an appearance. Tho AUuzOnas, armed with
several similar engines OF warfare, was expected
more formidable demonstration would be made.
1t is probable that the Chilians viii make no attack
which will bring their vessels Within range of the
| forts or endanGer their safety.