The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-12-24
REYES is DISCONSOLATE.
coIombia's Special Envoy to Washing
ton and President Elect Believes
Conflict with u. S. Inevitable.

4 Washington dispatch says: Gen
eral Reyes, the special envoy from
Colombia who seems to be the presi-
Gentelcct cf his country, has conldea
to friends in the diplomatic co:rs
that he believes war between this
country and Colombia is practically IN
cvitable. General Reyes says that the
war feeling in his country, as revealed
b. his adyicos from Bogota, is so
strong that he fears, ne will be unable
to stem the tide. He is bending all
his energies in that direction.
In the hope that present heated con
dition of Colombian bleed will cool il
given time, General Reyes is delaying
the main purpose Of his mission, which
is; TO present this government with a
note defining Colombias protest
against what he considers the perVer-
sion by the United States OF the pro-
visions of the treaty of 1916 under
which We undertook guardianship
over the isthmus. On the pretext that
he desires to present that note to Sec
retary Hay in person and cannot do so
now because OF Secretary Hays i'll
ness, he has sent the Colombian au-
thorities word that nothing can be
done until after the holidays. There
is every reason to believe that the
sol
have drafted was completed several
days ago, but General Reyes, who,
more than any other colombian, real
ICES the disasters which must befall
his country in case OF war with the
United States, is holding the matter
in allegiance in the hope that the inev-
liable failure OF his mission may not
be realized until after something
else has turned up to divert the atten-
tion Of the Colombian public.
His greatest hope, the only hope lie
has had since reaching Washington,
was tnat he might save something to
Colombians out OF the wreck Of her
hopes.
A good many republican senators
seem to take the same view as Gen
eral Reyes as to the inevitability OF
war, but, of course, they see no dan
ger, actual or political, in such con-
flict. While Secretary Moody has seut
warnings to the naval commanders en-
both sides of the isthmus to be ex-
ceedingly careful and permit nothing
done that can precipitate conflict,
there can be no question that most OF
the naval officers are eager for
scrap. The same is true of the general
staff of the army.
Europe Wants no War.
Diplomatic pressure will be brought
to bear upon Colombia by several Eu-
ropean powers to prevent war be-
tween that country and the United
States. The first step in this dirac-
ton already has been taken by several
foreign powers through their repre-
sentatives in washington, VINO have
informed General ReRyes Of the futil-
ity Of any attempt by Colombians 10
retake Panama, declaring that it will
result only in precipitating the Bogota
government into war with the United
States, and have said to him that the
result of such a catastrophe Colombia
herself must realize. II this is not
sufficient the representatives of these
countries at Bogota will be instructed
to inform President Marroquin that
Colombia can expect no sympathy
from the European powers in any
move she may make on Panama,
which would inevitably involve her in
war with the United States.