Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-22
NO W AR EXISTS
Condition of Affairs Between Colon
bia and Venezuela.
DIR. SlLVA'S RECENT ADVICES
Revolutionists Defeated in Engage
ment Near Tomaco.
IMPORTANT UTTERANC CES

DR.. Martinez Silva, the Colombian MIN
fster, today received an official letter from
the minister of Colombia at Quito, Ecua-
dor, which reports an engagement near
Tomaco IN which a force OF Colombian
revolutionists was defeated and arms,
ammunition and prisoners were taken.
The letter also discfoses the satisfactory
condition of affairs between Ecuador ana
Colombia, and dsposes OF reports that an
armed invasion by Ecuadorian troops was
to be apprehended
The minister at Quito states that al
most all the revolutionary chiefs, who had
fed from Colombia and taken refuge in
Ecuador, had gone back to Colombia. DR..
Silva considers this an explanation of the
recent press reports that force from
Ecuador was about to invade Colombia
and fight battle near Paste. Concerning
the engagement near Tomaco the letter
states that General Palasius, commandant
of the city of Barbacoas, which had been
recovered by the government, was in COM
mand of the government forces. The revo-
lutionary force was on its way to Tomaco,
on the Island of Gailie, and suffered sur
prise and defeat, with the loss of arms,
ammunition and numerous prisoners
Colombia and Venezuela
Reference to the map makes it evident
that the engagement spoken Of near To-
maco is part of the same movement re-
ferred to in press dispatches as going on
near Paste, as these two points are near
together on the Colombian side of the
frontier with Ecuador.
Dr. Martinez Silva today discussed the
dispatches received from President Castro
of Venezuela, through his secretary, and
from President Alfaro of Ecquador. Dr..
Silva spoke without criticism, and confined
his remarks to pointing out certain essen
n1 ntY,sc hinh hac rranS aeyaG I'M
two presidents made clear.
Coming from such high quarters" said
DIR. Silva, sit cannot be doubted that these
messages afford excellent means of viewing
the present situation of AFFAIRS from the
standpofnts Of these two governments. The
chief point to be noticed Is that they do
not treat war as existing. The message
from President Alfaro expressly states that
war between Colombia and Venezuela Is
improbable, and he adds that such conflicts
as have occurred growing out Of the union
between the conservatives in both republics
are Of transitory character. IT is Wen
to have the view of SO high an authority
on the improbability of war and on the
transitory character Of the party disturb
ances which have occurred. AS this dis
patch from Quito is dated August Il, IL
seems to-dispose Of the reports of several
days ago saying that an Ecquadorian army
was about to invade Colombia and fight
battle near Paste. Evidently the president
of Ecquador knows nothing Of the imni-
nence of such a conflict.
"The dispatch from General Castro's sec
retary also indicates clearly that no war
exists. 1t states that the conservatives Of
Colombia have resolved to assist In revo-
lutionary movement against Venezuela ana
her government From this 1t will be OBJ
served that the basis of the affair is a revo-
Iutfonary movement against Venezuela,
and of course, such movement Is an IN
ternal affair of Venezuela with which Co.
lombia has no concern. Altogether, the
messages seem to be reassuring as to the
fact that no actual war In the sense ac-
cepted by international authorities exists
or is probable.
'I am perfectly sure that In the revolu-
ton in Venezuela there, Is not one Coiom-
bian. I am also we'll informed that the Co.
lombian authorities on the frontier have
made the utmost effort TO prevent Colom-
bian territory from being made the base
for revolutionary movements into Venez-
uela.''
No Change Reported.
Consul General Gudger at Panama in
forms the State Department, under date OF
August H. that there has been no change
in the political situation on the isthmus SO
far as he can observe, since his last report
He states that the revolutionists are still
within q short distance of the railroad line
and that the government has made no ef-
fort far to dislodge them. For the week
preceding his report a guard Of fifty men
had been sent with each passenger train,
but at the time of writing the guard had
been withdrawn, owing to the objections
raised by the company, the railroad off,
cials fearing it might invite attack.