The San Francisco call., 1903-09-06
COLOMBIA
HOLDS UP
MESSAGES
Washington State
Department
Angered.
Hay Cannot Communi-
cate With Minister
Beaupre.
Explanation Is Demanded of
Bogota's Diplomatic
Representative.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

CALL BUREAU, 14O6 G STREET, N.
W., WASHINGTON, Sept 5.-Cable-
grams from the State Department in
Washington to Minister Beaupre in Bo-
gotta and from Minister Beaupre to the
department are being held up by the
Colombian Government. The admins
tration has been for several days with
out information concerning important
proceedings at Bogota, and finding be
yond question that its dispatches are
being purposeIy delayed, has taken steps
to remedy the state OF affairs.
It is learned that Secretary Hay to-
day formally called the attention of DR..
Herran, the Colombian Charge DAT
faires, to the fact that communication
between the department and the Ameri-
can Minister had been cut off and asked
for an explanation. Hay. it is said,
made his communication very pointed,
suggesting that regrettable consequences
to both countries would ensue If sup
preston of dispatches were persisted in.
Proof of the dupIicity of the Colombian
Government agents was obtained by the
department through message from Min
lister Beaupre, dated August %, which
accidentally found its way to the depart
ment. Beaupre reported that he received
no dispatches between July "A and August
10, although others of a later date had
been received.
DISPATCHES ARE TRACED.
The department then traced it's dis
patches from the telegraph Office in
Washington to Buena Ventura, Colombia,
where the cable ends and the telegraph
line controlled by the Colombian Govern
ment begins. There all trace of the dis
patches was lost, and inquiry on the part
of the cable company, in the form of
tracer, brought no satisfaction.
For some unexpected reason Dr. Herran
is avoiding the State Department. day
or so ago, when it was announced that Sec
retary Hay intended to call upon him for
an explanation of an interview in which
Minister Beaupre was severely criticised.
DR.. Herran said that he would visit Hay
at once. He failed to do so, however. and
has not called at the State Department
since.
The truth is that there is some feeling
between the department and DIR. Herran.
though outwardly a show of civility is
maintained. Secretary Hay has been ex-
hausted by the methods employed by Co
lombia in attempting to manipulate canal
negotiations.
POLITE BUT POINTED.
DR.. Herran remarked that Secretary
Hays note concerning the dispatches was
extremely polite. but that it wound up
with the statement that, 1T is needless
to say that you appreciate the gravity of
this matter
That the United States Government has
given up hope of favorable action bv the
Colombian Congress on the Panama ca
nal treaty was made plain tonight, when
a hi9h official of the State Department
declared that the treaty was practically
dead although the Colombian Congress
had until the 22d of this month to act
upon it. Official advices received here
convey the intelligence that the friends
of the treaty at Bogota have abandoned
their efforts in the interest of ratification
and some of them have departed for their
homes.