The Indianapolis journal., 1902-10-06
The General Contends that Debarring
Invalidates This Guaranty.
COMPLICATIONS MAY FOLLOW
1T MAY AFFECT THE COLOMBIAN
VOTE ON THE CANAL BILL.
Fighting Continues Around Santa
Marta-Great Depreciation of the
Colombian Paper Currency.

PANAMA, Colombia, Oct. 5.-After the
conference held last week between Gen.
eral SalaZar, Governor of Panama, and
Colonel Mander, of the Colombian forces on
the isthmus, and Commander Mclean, OF
the United States cruiser Cincinnati. no
further difficulties were feared. for 1t was
believed that General Salazar was salts
fed that the landing of American marines
on the isthmus had for it's only object the
maintenance of free railroad transit be-
tween here and Colon. The arrival at Pan
anna of Rear Admiral Casey on board the
battleship Wisconsin, however, has quite
changed the situation. 1t now appears
that the instructions brought by Rear Ad-
miral Casey may result in serious compl-
cations.
Last Friday General Salazar received a
communication from acting United States
Consul Ehrman. saying that Admiral Casey
would not permit the transportation or
armed or unarmed military employees Of the
governent or of war material of any kind
by the railroad General Salazar, up to
yesterday. had not answered this letter.
He was presumably awaiting the result of
the conference with Admiral Casey which
took place yesterday on board the Wiscon-
sin. At this meeting General Salazar said
that the United States, according to the
convention Of 1876, had contracted two in
separable obligations: namely, to guarantee
positively and efficaciously free transit
across the isthmus, and to guarantee in
the same manner the rights of sovereignty
and property which Colombia possesses
over the isthmian territory. The Governor
of Panama said further that if the Colom-
bian government is not allowed to trans
port its troops and war material by rail
over the isthmus, not only does the United
States not fulfill it's second obligation, but
it attacks Colonbia's right of sovereignty
and violates all principles of morality and
Justice; that he, the representative of
the nation and government, could not ac-
cept such an Interpretation of the conven-
ton and against which he must energet-
ically protest
Governor Salazar explained that the rev.
olutionists could not be considered on the
same footing as the government soldiers,
the latter being defenders of the laws of the
nation, while the rebels, by their actions
had placed themselves outside the law. He
said that an Interpretation Of the conven-
tion of 1S46 which did not permit Colombia
to transport its troops and war material
over the iSthmian railroad, constructed on
it's own territory, while allowing other ma
tions. and even those openly aiding the rev.
olution, to transport war materials over
this railroad under the protection of Amer
lean marines, must necessarily be entirely
erroneous.
swered that he was complying with in
structions received. He said he regretted
he had been compelled to take these meas
ures, but he considered them necessary to
the protection of free transit across the
isthmus, but he added that he would con-
suit the Washington government this
point. 1t was the general impression in
Colombian circles here that Admiral Casey
has misinterpreted his instructions.
1t is considered fortunate that General
Salazar has acted prudently in this mat
fnr md hat al oil o1ofi ions xyicf
between him and Admiral Casey, as these
| facts may do much towrd preventing the
very serious complications which are now
| thought to be imminent. 1t is believed by
| COlombians here that unless the Washing
| ton authorities send instructions to their
| representatives on the isthmus which do
not have the appearance of attacking the
| sovereignty rights of Colombia, the manner
| of handling the isthmian question which
| does attack Colombia's sovereignty may
| decide the vote of the Colombian Congress
on the canal bill.