The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-12
Washington Doesn't Know.

|
Washington, May 12.--No conarmatio,
has been received here, either by tn,
state department or by the Colombian lie
cation. of the reported resignation o
President Marroquin of Colombia on &C
count of political troubles. Such a ste,
on the part of the president, however
would not be surprising, as he is nearl,
80 years of age and Of quiet, retifins
| disposition. The understanding here la.
been all along that President Marroquir
is favorable to the ratification of the
Panama canal; in fact, twas under hi.
instructions that Dr. Harran Colombian
charge here, negotiated the treaty witt
the state department. The determined
and persistent opposition 5to the, treaty
which has manifested itself in many parts
Of Colombia, it is surmised probably has
influenced the president in the action he
is reported to have taken
General Raphael Reyes, the second vice
president, who will assume the presidency
IN the event Of the retirement of Mario
quin, holds the position of ''designado'
for the office, having been selected by the
Colombian congress in 1898 for that posi-
ton. His title for the designation, how
ever, Is disputed, as the selection is usual.
" every two years by. the Colombian con-
gress and the last congress failed to make
a selection. General Reyes consequent,
holds his designation from the congress
of 1888 The belief here is that he is IA
vorable to the canal treaty, altho he has
been quoted as having expressed senti-
ments in OPPOSITION to 1t.
DR.. Thomas Herran, Colombian charge
de affaires here, said to-day that he had
not been advised by his government that
President Morroquin had resigned as re.
ported in dispatches from Panama.
May Resort to Nicaragua.
II it shall appear shortly that the Co
lomblan government is unwilling to con-
summate the treaty, or is disposed tc
defer Anal action beyond the reasonable
time mentioned In the Spooner act, file
state Department will at once endeavor te
reopen. sotiations with Nicaragua and
Costa Rica; with a view Of securing con
troll Of the alternate route for, a cana,
thru those countries. In fact. Secretary
Hay has already within the week talked
with Senior Corea, the Nicaraguan min
lister, and Senior Calvo, the minister from
Costa RIGA. It is said by parties to the
negotiations that il they are, resumed ii
Will be upon the distinct understandin.
that the United States government def
nitely abandons the Panama route. Sc
much Ill feeling was excited in Nicaragua
by: the dropping Of the. Nicaragua route
after the protocols had been. drawn look
ing to its acquisition, that the resident
ministers: of the two countries here are
very loath to take up the subject again
without. an express agreement that they
are not to be used to club the Colombian
government into terms.
Officials here. however, feel yerv conf
dent that it will not be necessary to re-
sort again to the Nicaraguan route for
they believe that the present difficulties in
the Panama negotiations are solely at
tributable to efforts on the part Of Co
lombians to make the most Of the oppor-
tunity to induce the Panama canal com
pany to divide with it some part of the
$50 900. 600 to be received by the company
from the United States.
- Opposition Growing.
I Colon, Columbia, May 12.-Newspa pers
just received from Bogota, the capital.
contain al "a. articles adverse to the. Panama
canal nal treaty and private letters from Boz
gotta Of recent date, referring to the grow
ing opposition there to the treaty affirm
that even q certain number Of the gov
eminent officers are wavering in their ad-
herence to the treaty and prophesy its re-
lection by the Colombian congress in its