The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-10-09
CASEY'S ORDERS
ropRIDS TRANSPORTATION OF
COLOMBIAN TROOPS.
General salazar Protests, Believing
THAT the American Officer Is
violating Terms of Convention of
ts46--AIso Thinks Casey Has
Misinterpreted His Instructions.

Colon. Colombia, Oct. 6.-Under re-
cont orders issued by Admiral Casey,
,rbo is at Panama on the battleship
wisconsin. no Colombian military Of
fcers or troops or ammunition will be
allowed to be transported across the
isthmus by rail unless by special per-
mission. This order ignores the pass
es issued by the railroad company.
Exchange at Barranquilla is rising
hv leaps and bounds. An American
dollar is now, worth $S5 in Colombian
paper currency.
Panama, Oct. 6.-After the confer
ence held last week by Gen. Salazar,
governor of Panama, Col. Nader, of
the Colombian forces on the isthmus,
and Commander Mclean, of the Unit
cd States cruiser Cincinnati, no fur
Their difficulties were feared, for it was
believed that Gen. Salazar was salts
fed that the landing of American ma
rines on the isthmus had for it's only
object the maintenance of free railroad
transit between Panama and Colon.
The arrival at Colon of Rear Admiral
Casey, on the battleship Wisconsin,
however, has quite changed the stu
alton. 1t now appears that the in
structions brought by Rear Admiral
Casey to the effect that the transpor-
tation of arms, unarmed military en-
ployes of the government, or of war
material of any kind, by the Panama
railroad, may result in serious COM
pications.
At conference with Admiral Casey
Yesterday on board the Wisconsin,
Gen. Salazar said that the United
States, according to the convention
of 1916, had contracted two insep-
arabic obligations, namely, to guaran-
tee positively and effectively free tran
sit across the isthmus, and to guaran-
tee in the same manner the rights Of
sovereignty and property which Co.
lombia possesses over the isthmian
territory. He said further that if the
Colombian government is not allowed
to transport it's troops and war ma
teral by rail over the Isthmus, not
only does the United States not full
fill it's obligation, but it attacks Colom-
bias rights of sovereignty and violates
all principles of morality and justice;
that he, as the representative OF the
nation and government, could not &C
cept such an Interpretation Of the con-
vention and against which he must en-
ergetically protest.
Gov. Salazar said that an interpre-
tation of the convention of 1916, which
did not permit Colombia to transport
it's troops and war materials over the
lsthmian railroad, constructed on lts
own territory, while allowing other ma
tons, and even those openly in rebel
lion, to transport war material over
the road, under the protection or
American marines, must necessarily be
entirely erroneous.
To Gen. Salazar Admiral Casey an
swered that he was complying with In
structions received. He also said that
lie would consult with Washington ana
see what could be done in the matter.
1t is the general impression in COLON
bian circles here that Admiral Casey
has misinterpreted his instructions. IL
is considered fortunate that Gen. SAL
AGAR has acted prudently in this mat
ter and that cordial relations exist
between him and Admiral Casey, as
these facts may do much toward pre-
venting the very serious compllca-
tons which are now thought to be I'M
minent. 1t is believed by ColomDlans
here that unless the Washington au-
thorities send instructions to their
representatives on the isthmus when
do not have the appearance of attack
ing the sovereign rights of Colombia
the manner of handling the isthmian
question which does attack COLOMBIA
sovereignty may decide the vote OF the
Colombian congress on the canal DILL