Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-05-14
DELAY TREATY
POLITICAL SITUATION IN COLON
BIA MIXED.
President MarrOquire Reported to
Have Been Compelled to Resign
Office 80 Vice President Reyes
Will Probably Succeed Him---
Three Factions Oppose Treaty.

Panama, Colombia, Nav 12.-It is
reported here that President Marroquin
has been compelled to resign office on
account of political troubles and that
General Rafael Reyes, second vice pres
ident of Colombia, will assume the
presidency. Friends of the canal are
anxiously awaiting col frmation of this
report.
Washington, May 12.-No confirma-
ton has been received here either by
the state department or by the Colom-
bian legation of the reported resigna-
ton of President Marroquin of Colom-
bia on account of political troubles.
Such step on the part of the presi-
dent, however, would not be surpii s-
ing, as he is nearly so years of age and
is of quiet and retiring disposition.
The understanding here has been all
along that President Marroquin is ia
vOrable to the ratification of the Pana-
ma canal treaty; in fact it was under
his instructions that DR.. Herran, Co
lombian charge d'affaires here nego-
tiated the treaty with the state depart
ment. The determined and persistent
opposition to the treaty which has
manifested itself in many parts of Co
lombia, 1t is surmised, probably has
influenced the president in the action
he is reported to have taken.
General Rafael Reyes, the second
vice president, who will assume the
presidency in the event of the retire.
ment of Marroquin, holds the position
of "Designado" Tor the office, having
been selected by the Colombian con-
gress in 1898 for that position.
Title Is Disputed.
His title for the designation, howev-
er, is disputed, as the selection is usu-
ally made every two years by the Co.
lombian congress. The last congress
failed to make selection, General
Reyes consequently holds his desigpa-
ton from the congress of 1898. The
belief is that he is favorable to the ca.
nal treaty, although he has been quoted
as having expressed sentiments in OPP
position to it.
Concerning the report from Panama
that the Panama canal company had
offered to the Colombian government
$l2,00O,O0O of the $40,000,000 the
company is to receive from the United
States for the canal property, Edward
B. Hill, counsel for the canal company,
said:
81 have never heard of such thing.
Colombia has never demanded such q
payment. We do not expect to pay
any amount to Colombia. She will re-
ceive $40, 200. 900 in cash and an annu-
ity of $3.50, 900 from the United States.
The latter has not yet paid the $40,
600, 900 which it has agreed to pay the
canal company for its rights"
Private advices from Colombia state
that there are three elements opposed
to the ratification of the Panama canal
treaty. One element antagonizes the
feature giving the United States per-
petuul control; another urges that the
indemnity and annuity is not sufficient,
and the third element consists of the
revolutionary spirits who fear that with
the Colombian treasury enriched by
$4,000, 900, the governments strength
will be so increased as to destroy all
hopes of success from any revolutionary
movement.
The special session of the Colombian
congress will meet June 20 and there
will be a month for the consideration
of the treaty before the regular session
convenes in July. The attitude of the
majority of the members of the present
congress is unknown.