The Washington times., 1901-08-20
COLOMBIA NOT In DANGER
Dr.. Silva Says the InsurrectiOn Is
Now Under Control.
American Wnrships VIII Prevent
y Trouble on the. Isthmus and Dis
courage Participation by Other
Countries in Cnstro's Designs.

The officials of the State Department
! are of the opinion that the Colombian
| Government is in a position to cope will
the revolutionary uprising in that coun
| try, and that for the present. at least
| there is no necessity for intervention
on the part of the United States. Thi
| assurance was given. to Secretary Ha.
| yesterday by DIR. Silva. the Colombian
Minister, who called at. the department
and had half hours conversation with
| the Secretary regarding his country's at
fairs as affected by the insurrectionists.
DIR. Silva stated that. there was nothing
alarming in the situations and that h
thought matters would soon settle down
to u peaceful condition. He declared tha
his advices from Bogota. the. capital, wer'
to the effect that traffic was still free am
open all along the isthmus and that there
had not been any serious interruption. Il
is admitted. however, that there has beer
some guerrilla fighting, but the Govern
ment is said to have the situation well In
hand and to be able to cope with the dis
turbing element.
1t is thought. too. that the presence OF
three American warships will have the
effect of quoting the revolutionists, or
at least that the moral effect will be
that they will not attempt any steps
which will interfere with American inter-
ests.
Not only will the influence of the Amer
lean ships restrain the revolutionary Co.
lombians, but it is believed that it will
have a strong tendency to prevent MIC
aragua from seeking to take a hand in
the trouble. Ill feeling has existed be-
tween Nicaragua and Colombia for some
time. growing out of a boundary dispute
on the Isthmus, where, it is alleged. the
Colombians succeeded in taking adyan-
tase of the Nicaraguang Government. The
latter has always cherished desire to
regain control of the territory which
she lost, and 1t is believed that that, coun-
try would, if a favorable opportunity pre-
sented itself, be willing to join with Cas-
tro or any other enemy of Colombia for
purposes of revenge.
With Colombia pressed by Nicaragua on
one side and Venezuela on the other, and
with a disturbing element among her own
citizens, the situation might be more
grave for that country than it is at pres
ent. The presence of the American ships
will have a strong tendency toward the
preservation of peace, as it is we'll under
stood by the Nicaraguans that the United
States would step in If there should be
any trouble which would jeopardize its
interests on the Isthmus or interfere with
free transit
AS circumstances are at present. there
will be no attempt made by this Govern
ment to land detachment of marines.
The sending of the ships to either side of
the isthmus is. said to be purely pre-
cautionary measure. SO as to be prepared
for an emergency should it arise
DIR. Silva has been out of town. for some
time and returned only last Saturday. He
YVES brought back here by reason of the
reports which have come from Colombia
regarding the uprising. and his purpose
was to assure the State Department that
his Government was in position to pro-
tect American interests and suppress the
revolt. There is fear however, that the
situation may change at any moment by
a union Of forces opposing Colombia.
headed possibly by President Castro,
when some more drastic action would
be necessary ON the part of this Govern
ment.
The Machias is en- route to Colon and
the Ranger is on her way to Panama.
The latter vessel will stop en- route at
Acapulco. Mexico, which IS about half
way between San Diego and Panama.
According to a despatch received by the
Bureau of Navigation Yesterday the bat
tleship Iowa will sail from San Francisco
for Panama this morning