The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-10-06
COLOMBIA IS WROUGHT UP
INDIGNANT AT ORDER OF AD-
 NERAL CASEY, '. s. N.
Latter Notifies Governor saiaZar That He yyill Not Permit the Transporta- sion of Armed OF Umarmed Empioyes ofthe Government or of War Material of Any Kind by the Railroad -serious Complications Possible.

Panama, Colombia, Oct. 5.-After the conference held last week between Gen. eral Salazar. governor of Panama and commander of the Colombian forces on the isthmus and Commander Mclean, of the United States cruiser Cincinnati, no further difficulties were feared, for it was believed that General Salazar Mas satisfied that the landing Of Amer ican marines on the isthn1us had for it's only object the maintenance of free railroad transit between here and Col on The arrival at Panama of Rear l Admiral Casey on board the battleship l Wisconsin, however has quite changed
 the situation. It now appears that the | instructions broght by Rear-Admiral Casey may result in serious complica- tions Last Friday General SalaZar re- ceived a communication from Acting United States Consul Trhman saying that Admiral Casey would not permit
 the transportation of armed or unarm- 1 ed employees of the government, or of
 war material of any kind, by the rail-
 road General Salazar up to yesterday
 had not answered this letter. He was
 presumably awaiting the result of the conference with Admiral Casey, which
 occurred yesterday on board the Wis1 | consin.
 At this meeting General Salazar said
 that the United States. according to the
 convention of 1S46 had contracted two inseparable 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
 isthman territory. The governor of Panama said further that if the Colom-
 bian government is not allowed to
 transport it's troops and war material
 by rail over the isthmus. not only does
 the United States not fu1&ll its second obligation, but it attacks Colonbias
 rights of sovereignty and violates all principles of morality and justice; that l he, as the representative of the nation
 and government, could not accept such
 an interpretation of the convention and
 against which he must energeticallN protest. Governor Salazar explained
 that the revolutionists could not be con-
 sidered on the same footing as the gov
 ernment soldiers, the latter being de-
 lenders of the laws of the nation. while
 the rebels, by their actions, have placed | themselves outside of the law. He said l that an interpretation of the convention Of 1846 which did not permit Colombia to. transport its troops and war material over>atl1e isthmian railroad constructed on it's own territory, while allowing 1 other nations, and even those openly
 aiding the revolution, to transport war
 material over this railroad under the protection of American marines must necessarily be entirely erroneous.
 To General Salazar Admiral Casey answered that he was complying with l instructions received. He said he de- plored the measures he had been com relled to take. but which he considered necessary to the protection of free tran
 sit across the isthmus. Admiral Casey said also that he would consult with Washington and see what could be
 done in the matter. It is the general l impression in Colombian circles here
 that Admiral Casey has misinterpreted
 his instructions. It is considered fortu-
 nate that General Salazar has acted
 prudently in that matter, and that cor
 dial personal relations exist between him and Admiral Casey. as these facts may do much towards preventing the very serious complications which are
 now thought to be imminent It is be- lieved by Colombians here that unless the Washington authorities send iu- 1 structions to their representatives on l tha isthmus which do not have tba an pearance of attacking the sovereignty
 rights of Colombia, the manner of han
 ding the isthmian question which does
 attack Colombia's sovereignty may de-
 cite the vote of the Colombian congress on the canal bill.