Evening star., 1901-09-06
AFFAIRS ON ISTHMUS
Colombia's Representative Confers
With Mr.. Adee.
DISCUSSING ECUADOR'S ATTITUDE
Proposed Invasion Not Regarded
as the Administrations Wish.
PREPARING FOR TROUBLE

The Colombian charge d'affaires, Mr.
Thomas Herran, called at the State De-
partment this morning and had an extend
ed conference with Acting Secretary Adee
concerning the latest phase of the trouble
at and about the Isthmus of Panama and
particularly the official dispatches from
Colombia stating that Ecuador had cast
her lot against Colombia. Mr.. Herran pre-
sented the two dispatches received yester-
day. one from CALI near the Ecuadorian
frontier. and the other from Panama. These
were exclusively announced in The Star
yesterday. The first was from Gov. Cor
doba. executive Of the province of Cauca,
which stretches along the entire Pacific
coast of Colombia from Ecuador up to the
isthmus. The other was from the acting
governor Of Panama, Senior Arizona, who Is
in charge while Gov. Alban is on board the
warship Pinzon. Both dispatches were sub
stantally alike concerning Ecuador, Gov.
Cordoba referring to Ecuador's interven-
ton with an army and vessels, while Act
ing Governor Arizona spoke Of announced
expeditions from Ecuador. Nicaragua was
also brought into the situation, Gov. Ar
jona referring to expected expeditions from
that quarter. He spoke hopefully, how
ever. of being able to keep traffic open
across the isthmus.
Steps to He Taken Discussed.
Secretary Adee and Mr.. Herran went
over the situation on the Pacific and At
lantc Sides and discussed the steps which
should be taken. On the part of the United
States the presence Of the Iowa and Ran
ger at Panama and the Machias at Colon
will give a large available force. The
Ranger is already at Panama, and the ar
rival Of the Iowa is expected not later than
fomnrrOW Colombia alSo has small
craft at Panama, and it Is expected as a
result of Governor Cordeba's dispatch that
these will be moved south toward the
Ecuadorian border On the Atlantic side
Bocas del Toro continues to be critical
point, and the Navy Department is pre-
pairing to have a vessel there on short
notice.
Considerable surprise is expressed at the
news of the intention of Ecuador to invade
Colombia, as disclosed by the dispatch re-
ceived from Cali, which is the most i'm
portant Of the cities Of the department OF
Cauca, bordering on Ecuador. Senor Plaza,
the new president of the latter country.
evidence Of his intention to observe strict
neutrality between Colombia and Venezuela
in their pending difficulties.
Opposed to President Plaxa's Wish.
The impression prevails that the invad-
ing force is under the direction Of the In
tervening party in Ecuador, which prob
ably has a force Of men near the border
line. and is taking an early opportunity to
act before the new president can success
fully interfere. The real objective point is
believed to be Panama where the invaders
may assist the Colombian revolutonists
and those who may be brought from Mic
aragua. Reliance Is placed, however, by
the Colombian officials on the presence OF
United States men-of-war at Panama to
prevent any attack on the place.
Colombian officials here profess to have
no fear Of any serious difficulties on the
addition n Ia
forces already there to preserve the peace
one thousand men now at Barranquila are
under orders to proceed to the vicinity and
should reach there in a couple of days.
Grave Issues to he Decided.
Some important issues have grown out
of the trouble in Colombia which are like
ly to require the attention of the President
and his cabinet at an early day, probably
within week Owing to the increasing
complications along the Isthmus of Pana-
ma. it has become desirable to determine
the exact duties and responsibilities of the
United States. This has presented the is
sue whether our treaty with Colombia
makes the United States a guarantor of
Colombia's sovereignty over the entire 18TH
confines our guaranty to free transit across
confirms our guaranty to free transit across
that particular point on the isthmus where
railway and other traffic is usually car
ried on. The distinction is an important
one, as determining the extent of territory
covered by the guarantee of our treaty and
whether our war ships are likely to go to
points outside of Panama and Colon, the
two termini Of the usual route
Another question which has grown out
of the trouble is as to whether the exist
ing conflict is to be construed as a civil up
rising or a foreign invasion. The extent of
American action will depend a good deal
upon the determination Of this ISSUE. If it
is merely a civil conflict, the action of
the United States will probably be confined
to keeping open traffic across the iSthmus
But If there Is a foreign invasion from
Ecuador, Venezuela or elsewhere, it may
become necessary to uphold our treaty
guarantee of Colombias sovereignty over
the isthmus.
Vessels without National Flag.
A third important question is as to the
status of vessels operating against CoIom-
bia, as there are indications that Colombia
will again make the point raised In 1885
that such vessels are under no flag, and
are to be treated as pirates. This was one
of the most perpiexing problems in the up
rising in 1885, and although Secretary Bay
ard held that the United States could not
treat these raiding vessels as pirates yet
1t is probable that the issue will again be
raised in such form as to require careful
consideration.
1t Is understood that the government has
been made aware Of the desire of Colom-
bia to have the foregoing issues definite
ly determined and this is likely to bring
them to the attention of the President and
his cabinet.