Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-23
IT'S ALL SETTLED.
Colombia Has Nothing to Refer
to The Hague Tribunal.
Russia, Germany, France and England
Approve Our lsthmian Course.
Nothing to Do Now but See That Canal
Is Built.

Washington, Dec 22.-"Refusal by
the United States to consent to a prop
osition from Colombia for a reference
of the Panama question to The Hague
tribunal is expected and will be fully
approved by the European powers"
This statement was made to repre-
sentative of The Associated Press, to-
night, by a European ambassador of
high rank and influence. 1t has al
ready been made in substance, though
in rather more diplomatic language, to
Gen. Reyes, the Colombian minister,
who is expected in his forthcoming
note to the state department to sug
gest The Hague tribunal as the proper
place for the settlement of the 18TH
milan problem. Whether the knowledge
that the refusal of such a request so
far from prejudicing the European
powers against the Washington gov
eminent, will call forth their emphatic
endorsement will cause Gen. Reyes to
modify his note is not certain.
The ambassador quoted in explaining
the attitude of the European powers
said:
Panama is closed chapter in the
| history of nations and The Hague
court is not the place for settled ques-
tons but for pending problems which
are referred to it with the full APP
prevail of all parties interested. When
Russia, Germany and France recog-
| nized the independence of Panama.
| they set their seal of approval on the
| prompt action of the Washington gov
| eminent in pledging itself to guaran-
| and n a in tho in6annn1pnca nf
the republic it had previously recog-
| nized. Nations can hardly be expect
ed to settle questions of sovereignty
or national honor at The Hague. More
over, in my opinion it would not be
within the province of the Washing
ton government to grant such re-
quest from Colombia. 1t is to Panama,
not to Washington, , that Colombia
should take such a proposition.
| There is, however, a question be-
| tween Colombia and Panama which
with all proprety might be referred to
The Hague and to which reference the
United States will scarcely offer OBJ
! lection. 1t is the question of the as
sumption by Panama of part of the
Colombian debt. If Gen. Reyes should
ask the United States to use it's good
| offices to have this matter brought be-
fore The Hague, Panama might safely
acquiesce in such a proposition. The
difficulty in making this request would
be that Colombia thereby would recog-
| niZe the independence of the new re-
public but this must come sooner or
later
At the navy department the state
| mnnt made TONIGHT inc
| lions to the naval commanders in 18TH
milan waters to prevent the landing
of forces with hostile intent" have not
been modified. These instructions, it is
believed, are sufficiently comprehensive
to enable the commanders to maintain
open transit across the isthmus and
protect the new republic from Colom-
bian expeditions.
| A full and detailed report of the
condition of affairs on the isthmus. as
| he saw them will be made to President
| Roosevelt and to Secretary Hay by
Admiral John G.. Walker chairman OF
the isthmian canal committee, who re-
turned to Washington from Colon, to-
night. The admirars stay on the
isthmus covered period of about four
weeks, during which he went over the
ground very thoroughly, particularly
with reference to the condition of the
canal property.
| THE Panama government" he said,
"is composed of excellent, capable men,
who have the confidence of the people
Everything is orderly and quiet and
had l not known that a revolution had
taken place before I arrived, there
was nothing to show there had been
any charge"
| The admiral said the isthmians have
no fear that the Colombians will at
tempt to reconquer the country
There is not, he said, trail in all
Panama of sufficient width to drive a
wagon Colombia has never built a
trail nor constructed a bridge in Pan
anna. The impassability of the coun-
try renders it unlikely in the admirals
opinion, that any warlike steps will be
taken by Colombia.
THEY WANT TO KNOW