Evening star., 1901-09-04
7 UNDER CIVIL RULE AS A PEACEMAkER
South American Diplomats Favorably
Impressed.
DEVELOPMENT OF MONROE DOCTRINE
Proposed Mediation in Colombia
Venezuela Trouble.


The action Of the United States In ten
dering it's good Offices to Venezuela and
Colombia to avert war between those
countries has not yet advanced to point
where this government has begun the work
of mediator. 1t has signified it's willing
ness to act, but it will remain for the two
countries to indicate when the time has ar
rived for actual mediation.
Secretary Hays Note.
During Secretary Hays recent visit to
Washington he sent a telegraphic message
to the United States ministers at Caracas
and Bogota. directing them to inform the
foreign secretaries of Venezuela and Co.
lombia of the distress with which the Pres
ident had heard of the likelihood of dis
turbance of the relations between those
two republics. Adverting to the POSSIBLE
ity of the influence of the United States
being exerted to compose the pending queS-
tions, the ministers were directed to say
that, while the relations of this govern
ment with both nations are equally inti-
mate and friendly and every opportunity
is taken to show the good will We bear
them, an offer of the Presidents kindly Of
fees to arrange any differences which may
exist between Colombia and Venezuela
would be ineffective without the acquies-
the sentiments which are common to all
the governments of the American republics,
the United States would sincerely deplOre
breach of the amicable relations that at
this time happily exist between the sister
nations of the western world, and would
especially regret any action by either of
them which might menace the security of
transit across the isthmus or the neutral
1ty Of its territory and thereby conStrain
the government of the United States to
consider it's responsibilities and functions
under existing treaty engagements with
Colombia.
Colombia has already made known that
she will welcome the exercise of the pa
cific offices of the United States. In this
acceptance 1t is understood that Colombia
denies that she has invaded Venezuela. and
also places the burden of the issue on Pres
ident Castro in person, as against the body
of the Venezuelan people The response of
Venezuela is understood to be less definite
in accepting the good offices of the United
States. For the present, therefore, 1t is
not expected that the United States will
take further active steps. although it's ten
der stands a clear intimation to the con-
tending 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,
Mr.. Pulido, left for Buffalo in the Pam
American party at $40 this morning, which
indicates that no immediate crisis is antici-
pated.
COlOmbfa's Emphatic Denial.
The Colombian government will make an
emphatic rejoinder to the official statement
of Venezuela that armed bodies Of Colom-
bian troops have been crossing the Vene-
zuelan frontier and have been forcing war
upon that country. Although the terms OF
the reply are not determined upon, it will
show in substance that the attitude Of CO.
lombia has been one of forbearance; that
Colombian troops on the frontier are there
hn ir1oo a fa OfY nfanf fncr he
border. and that any crossing Of the line
has been by detached bands, without the
approval Of the federal government. AS
against Venezuela's assertions that CO.
lombia is forcing war, it is likely to be
pointed out that Colombia has remained 81
lent while Venezuela has received the Co.
1ombian insurgent leader, Gen. Tribe, at
Caracas. and that President Castro and
Ur1be have held conferences on their mu-
tual plars.
Alleged Triple Alliance.
In that connection 1t has just been dis
closed that Gen. Uribe made a statement
at the Colombian legation in Washington
to the effect that the revolutionary move
ment, of which he is the head, had the sup
port of Venezuela, Ecuador and Nicaragua
The statement was made during the pen
dency of negotiations for the surrender Of
the Frevolutionists. The Colombian minis
ter DR.. Silva, and Secretary Herran were
government, and Gen. Tribe came from
New York to arrange the matter in behalf
of the revolutionists. During the discussion
Mr. Herran told the general that he should
feel 1t an honor to restore peace to the
country after his revolutionary followers
had been crushed Gen. Uribe dissented
from this, and then made the positive state
ment that while the revolutionists might
seem crushed, they were, in fact. strong.
as they had the assurance of the support
of Venezuela. Ecuador and Nicaragua.
The negotiations with Uribe closed with
an agreement of surrender, but the Colom-
bian authorities are now satisfied that this
was a clever ruse on his part by which his
agents secured passports through Colombia
ana Went on an ostensible peace mission.
whereas their real purpose was to act as
spies and revolutionary propagandists.
Effect of Secretary Hays Note.
The note of the United States Offering to
mediate has created an unusual stir in
South American diplomatic quarters, as It
is construed to be a rather marked de-
Velopment of the Monroe doctrine and
one which will be most acceptable to South
America. This view was set forth today
by leading South American official, as
follows:
Heretofore the Monroe doctrine has
been addressed chiefly to European coun-
tries. and has served as warning against
European extension in the western hemi-
sphere. But while this was an assurance
croachments from abroad, yet their states
men have felt for some time that the doc
trine should be given a positive aspect in
securing the peace of South and Central
America. 1t has been felt that the United
States should not occupy the position Of
dog in the manger, keeping others out and
yet refusing to act herself. In short. it
is the view in South America that the
Monroe doctrine imposes certain response
bilities for the maintenance of internal
peace. For that reason. the present con-
servative action Of the United States in
seeking to bring about peace between Ven
ezuela and Colombia will undoubtedly pro-
duce most favorable impression in South
America in showing the disinterested de-
sire Of the United States to maintain peace
throughout the western hemisphere
Minister Bowers Report.
Mail advices from Venezuela, which
reached the State Department this morn
ing. contain a report from United States
Minister Bowen, dated at Caracas about the
middle Of August. upon the conditions un-
der which Mr., Russell. the United States
charge, undertook the custody of the Co
lcmbian legation at CARACAS. It appears
from Mr.. Bowen's account that the Co