The age-herald., 1901-11-22
GEN. ALBAN MAY HAVE SET A TRAP So Thinks General Reyes About
 CoIon's Capture PRESIDENCY IS DOUBTFUL Colon Is Quiet In Hands of Liberals. French Interested In the Land
 ing of american
 Marines.

Arizaba, Mex, November 2l-Gen Re- fel Reyes. of Colombia, was on train between Fortin and Arizaba on the Vera Cruz Railroad with the other delegates to the Pan-American conference today when he was shown the Associated Press dispatch announcing the taking of Colon by the Colombian Liberals. General Reyes said he would not like to talk until he had received official advices. Without attempting to minimize the inn portance of the news he said that the latest turn of affairs might easily prove to have been trap laid by General AL bans to catch the insurgents.
 When ssked whether he would accept the Presidency of Colombia and whether this Liberal success would cause any change in his plans, he said
 T prefer not to say whether l will ac- cept the Presidency or not until l have conferred with General Ospina and George Holguin upon my return to Mex leo City tomorrow. So far I have declined the offer. I cannot say Just now whether or not I may take different view of the matter after conferring with my countrymen, but this latest event will not in any case affect my decision.
 Mexico City, November H.-Gen. Piedro Ospina and George Holguin, the former minister of war of Colombia, and the lat ter formerly finance minister, have ar rived here to confer with General Reyes, a member of the Pan-American Congress It is understood they will offer him the Presidency of Colombia assuring that his taking office will bring peace to the country
 Colon Is Quiet.
 Colon, Colombia, November 21.-The city of Colon was perfec-.y quiet all yes terday and last night. It is claimed in behalf the liberals that there has been no unseemely behavior. Foreigners are being respected and protected and transit across the isthmus is uninter- rupted The postoffice, prefecture. all the other governm ent offices and nearly all the commercial houses were closed yes- terday.
 Colonel Barrera, Commander of the liberal forces. asserts that he has noti- fled the district representative of the de- partment of the interior and other for mer officials of the government that he has appointed commission to take over their offices formally today. Senor Espriella, a prominent lawyer and coun- sel for the Panama Railroad, is a mem Der of the commission. The feeling of the community cannot be regarded as an- tagonistic to liberalism. 1,.e existing conditions have created no panic, but it is recognized that the fact that while the liberals are in Colon the conserva- tives are in possession of Panama, creates a state of affairs which cannot possibly continue.
 The government at Panama is still busy erecting breastworks in the vicinity of the railroad property, in the direction of which the Liberal attack is expected It is not improbable that the Iowa will shortly land force to protect transit.
 French Are Interested.
 Paris, November 2.-Considerable at- tention is being paid here to the landing of the force of American marines at Co., lon, particularly in view of Secretary Hays recent speech.
 The Journal Des de Bats, commenting on the alleged contrast of Secretary Hays assurance that the United States does not covet the territory of other American republics, and the landing of the marines from the Machias, says:
 The events on the isthmus of Panama furnish the United States government with an opportunity of proving practf- cally to what extent it's action Is disin- terested."
 The Liberte accuses Washington of seeking a pretext to seize the isthmus, and declares that the American will now strive their utmost not to release their prey.
 Kingston. Jamaica, November 21-The British cruiser Tribune left here today for Colon.