The age-herald., 1901-11-03
Honor Was Offered to Ex- Senator Davis, But He
 Declines
COLUMBIA AND VENEZUELA
Efforts Made to Maintain Peace Be. tween Countries-VenezueIa Re piles to a ResoIutlon-Co-
 Iombia Will Reply.

1 Mexico City. November 2-At this mornings meeting of the Pan-American | Congress, General Rafael Reyes, delegate 1 or Colombia, in a speech full of praise for the United States, proposed that II. | c. Davis, chairman of the United States delegation, be elected permanent presi- | dent of the Pan-American conferencc In proposing ex-Senator Davis as permanent president, General Reyes said:
 Tn offering the proposition which has just been read, feel sure that l have interpreted the wishes and sentiments of all the delegations of Latin America In rendering the office of president of the conference to the chairman of the United States delegation, we arc perform ing an act of courtesy in assigning the place of honor to the chief representa- tive of the nation which has taken SC i'm portant part in converting both Pan- American conferences and which if on no other ground than that of language, fig ures among all Latin American nations here represented in the role of a guest
 Civilization of United States.
 "1n addition to this duty of courtesy there are other reasons of great weight for the appointment of which have pro- posed, and among those reasons I may mention the fact that our several nations recognize the civilizing influence of the United States, and the influence which they confidently believe will ever be ex- erted on behalf of their prosperity and welfare under the amplest guarantee of ind all"
 The last mentioned sentiments were re- oeived by all the Latin-American dele- gates with marks of approval When MT. Reyes had named MT. Davis for the presidency of the conference c. M. Pepper, a United States delegate, spoke in Spanish, declining the honor.
 Ex-Senator Davis spoke in person, thanking General Reyes and the dele- gates, and saying that the Americans are not here for place or prominence. but to increase the general feeling of amity and good will among the American na- tions; that this country wanted no more territory, but stood as the Medes and the Persians for the Monroe doctrine, which declared for territorial integrity of all the American republics and for the preservation of their commercial rights and liberties.
 Cenaro Raigosa Elected.
 Ex-Senator Davis having declined the presidency of the conference, Provisional President Ceharo Raigosa, chairman of the Mexican delegation, was elected pres ident of the American international con- ference, Durat Peroira of Brazil was elected first vice president and Balletzar nf &a vii president
 Senor Carbo of Ecuador proposed nam ing Secretary Hay as an additional hon orary president. Senor Calve of Costa Rica seconded the motion, and Senor Carrea Of Nicaragua, asked that the ap- pointment be made by exclamation, and after another speech by Governor Reyes the conference accepted Carbos proposal unanimously by acclimation.
 Delegate Gil Fortoul of Venezuela said that he had received word that President Castro of Venezuela had replied to the resolution of the conference with respect to avoidance of war between his coun- try and Columbia and he asked the president of the conference if reply had been received from Colombia
 President Raigosa replied that the re- ply of the President of Venezuela had been received by the foreign office of Mexico, but up to the present moment neither the foreign office nor himself as president of the conference, had received any reply from Colombia. Gil Fortoul said he thought diplomatic usage de- manded that no official report of the re- ply of Venezuela be made until the re- ply of Colombia Is received. He there fore asked the chair to withhold the re- ply of Venezuela until Colombia is heard from.
 Cause of the Delay.
 Referring to the publication of dis patches which did not emanate from him General Reyes of Colombia said he be- heved the reason for the delay in the receipt of message from tn govern ment of Colombia was because of the interruption of the telegraph lines which passed through a rough country He was quite certain no discourtesy was intended.
 President Raigosa said he would act fin accordance with the representation of Gil Fortoul as being in conformity with diplomatic usage. but if the conference wished otherwise he would have to bow to its wishes.
 Arbitration Committee.
 The conference declared it did not wish to run counter to the request of Gil For toul.
 The following are the members of the arbitration and court of arbitration com mittee appointed by the several delega- tions of the Pan-American conference, one member for each delegation:
 Senor Beranejo for Argentine, senor Guachata for Bolivia; Durate Pereira for Brazil. Martinez Silva for Colombia: Senor Calvo for Costa Rica. Blest Cana for Chilli. Senor Carbo for Santo Domingo and Ecuador. Senor Estupinian for Sal vador. MT. Buchanan for the United States. Lazoarriaga for Guatemala. MT. Leger for Hayti. Senor Davila for Hon. duras. Senor Pardo for Mexico, senor Correa for Nicaragua, Senor Baez for Paraguay, Senor Alzamora for Peru. Senor Cuestas for Nicaragua and Gil Fortoul for Venezuela. Other committees will be appointed