The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-05
Colombia. However. Is willing that
This Country should Act as Me-
diatOr to Prevent War.
RESTREPo's ADvICES
COLOMBIAN REBELS SAID TO BE
TWENTY THOUSAND STRONG.
Small Armies at Various Places Read!
to of the Gum
boat La POpa.

ASHlNGION, sept. 4.-lne aCtlOn OIL
the United States in rendering its good Of
fees to Venezuela and Colombia TO avert
a war between those two countries has not
yet advanced to a point where this gov
eminent has begun the work of mediator.
1t has signifed its willingness to act, but it
will remain for the two countries to indi-
cate when the time has arrived for actual
mediation. Colombia already has made
known that she will welcome the exercise
of the pacific office Of the United States. In
its acceptance it is understood that Colom-
bia denies that she has invaded Venezuela
and also places the burden of the issue on
President Castro in person, as against the
body of the Venezuelan people. The response
of Venezuela is understood to be less def
mite in accepting the good offices of the
United States. For the present, therefore.
it is not expected the United States will
take further steps, although it's tender
stands as a clear intimation TO the contend
ing parties that the United States is likely
to take such action as is necessary to avert
war. The Colombian minister. DR.. Silva,
and the Venezuelan charge d'affaires, Senior
Pulido. left for Buffalo in the
lean party, which seems to indicate that no
immediate crisis is anticipated.
The note of the United States offering to
mediate has created an unusual stir in
South American diplomatic quarters, as 1t
is construed to he a rather marked devel-
opment of the Monroe doctrine, and one
which will be most acceptable to South
America. The Colombian government will
make an emphatic rejOinder TO the official
statement Of Venezuela that armed inVa-
slons by Colombian troops have been cross
ing the Venezuelan frontier, and have beer
forcing war on that country. Although
rho fnrrRan 81 h r,yl- A-D not
on. 1t will show in substance that the attI-
tude of Colombia has been one of forbear-
ance; that Colombian troops on the from
tier are there for the legitimate purpose of
protecting the border and that any crossing
of the line has been by detached bands
without the approval of the federal gov
eminent. AS against VenezueIa's assertions
that Colombia Is forcing war, it is likely to
bS pointed out that Colombia has remained
silent, while Venezuela has received the
m insurgent leader, General Tribe
Tribe, at Caracas. and that President Cas-
tro and Tribe have held conferences on
their mutual plans.
In this connection it has just been dis
closed that General Tribe made a statement
at the Colombian legation i'm this city to
the effect that the revolutionary movement
CT which he is the head had the support of
venezuela, Ecuador and Nicaragua. The
statement was made during the tendency of
negotiations for the surrender of the revo-
lutlonists. The negotiations with Tribe
closed, 1t is authoritatively stated, with an
agreement OF surrender, but the
authorities are now satisfied that this was
a clever ruSe on his part. by which his
agents secured passports through
and went on an ostensible peace mission,
whereas their real purpose was to act as
spies and revolutionary pr%opagandists.
Mail advicss from Venezuela which
reached the State Department to-day con-
tain a report from Minister Bowen. dated
at Caracas about the middle of August, on
the conditions under which Mr.. Russell. the
United states charge. undertook the Gus
tody of the Colombian legation at Caracas.
1t appears from Mr.. Bowen's account tina;
the IOl0mnIan n1iniGfar Loft Cor,oo- 49,.
because of a breach of relations between
Venezuela and Colombia, but to get into
closer relations with his own government,
he having found it 5ifficult to Communicate
with his government from Caracas. Mr..
Russell was requested by the withdrawing
rr1nlSter 70 assume charge of the legation
premlSeS-nOt 10 undertake to look after
the business of the legation. The Ven
ezCelan government was advised of this re-
quest, and, making no objection. Mr.. Rus
sell took the keys of the Colombian lega-
ton.
Mr.. Bowen inclosed with his report 4
copy OF the long note from the Venezuelan
government addressed TO the world at large
through the diplomatic representatives at
caracas, the substance of which has been
made public in preceding cable dispatches.
1t is believed that there is nothing in this
note to make war between these two conn
tries unavoidable. Mr.. Bowen makes no
ccmment of his own on the p~oliticaT condi-
tions in Venezuela.
Mail adyices received at the State De-
partment from Consul General Gudger. at
Panama, throw light on the situation on
the lsthmus In the latter part of August.
On Aug. % the consul general reported
that the bands opposed to the Colombia
government had been committing depreda-
lions on Chinese merchants on the railroad
between Colon and Panama. and that their
losses amounted to thousands of dollars
lnasmuch as the Chinese on the isthmus
are, in the absence of their own consul
under the protection of the United states
consul, MIR. Gudger printed a notice i'm the
principal newspapers of that fact and re
quested that the depredations upon these
people be discontinued. Ee saws. however
that the notice had no effect. and maj
while other nationalities suffered the Chi
nese were the principal losers from these
depredations; although the consul general
has done all in his power to secure i1st
treatment for them. In this regard ne had
used mis- good offices with the Colombia
government and not with the insureents
Under date of Aug. % the consul general
reports that an insurgent band had an
peared at Chama, about twenty miles from
Panama. and that the government was
strengthening its forces i'm that CITY. The
news that a United States warshin Wa
being sent 10 Panama had had a good ef-
feet. 1t was currently reported that tho
Liberals had given strict orders TO their
followers not To obstruct the railway or
interfere with traffic.