Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-28
GEN. REYES ARRIVES
Head of Peace Commission
From Colombia.
CALLS ON DIR. HERRAN
COMES TO DISCUSS PANAMA
CANAL TERMS.
His Government Willing to Give the
Concession to This Country for
Nothing-Feeling in Senate.

General Rafael Reyes and his associates
of the Colombian peace commission"
reached Washington this morning at
O'Clock, having come direct 10 this city
from New Orleans, where they arrived
| Thursday last by steamer. The first and
| only official statement made by General
Reyes in denial of the warlike inter-
views that have been appearing in the pa
pers since he reached this country. He
said:
Since my arrival in New Orleans l have
repeatedly informed the representatives of
the press that L have nothing to say for
the present. and 1 must now add that state-
ments attributed to me in recent publica-
tons entirely incorrect"
This denial was issued through DR..
| Herran, the Colombian charge in this city,
after long conference between him and
the members of the commission. 1t Is
generally believed that further talk at this
time has been advised against by DR..
| Herran. The latter professed this after
&c on not to know jest what the mission OF
the Colombian commissioners is. He de-
| clared his talk with them had been purely
| social and domestic, concerning principally
the luggage of the party. some Of which
| has gone astray.
Ready to Give Canal Concessions.
Upon the arrival at the Pennsylvania
| DEPOT this morning Gen. Reyes talked quite
| fl eely but Informally to a representative OF
the Associated Press He made the state
ment. which is entirely new. TO the effect
that Colombia stands ready to grant canal
concessions to the United States without
the payment of a cent by this country.
| This statement is meant as refutation or
the reports sent out from Bogota to the
effect thai money considerations had in
fiuenced the Colombian congress in its re-
fUsal to ratify the Hay-Iterran treaty. The
desire of the Colombian commissioners is
that 1t shall be known that the hitch In
the ratification was due to the national
spirit and the patriotism of the people, who
did not wish to surrender sovereignty OF
any part of their country.
Just what effect this statement to Co
lombia's willingness to grant any conces-
SonS the United States may desire with
out the payment of a bonus will have on
the negotiations now in progress cannot be
| foretold, but il is not believed that any
serious or official cons derat.on can be given
| to any overtures from Colombia regarding
, Panama, now that the independence Of
the isthmus has been formally recognized,
not only by this country but others, and q
treaty entered into with the new republic.
The effect may be to delay ratification OF
the new treaty by the United States Sem
ate. This may be the end desired by th6
commissioners. for while Gen. Reyes de.
MES all insinuations that he or his asso-
ciates have come to Washington for pur-
poses of lobbying against ratification. II is
readily realized that only through the Sen.
ate can Colombia accomplish anything.
Members of the Commission.
The commission is composed Of Gen.
Reyes Gen. Pedro Ospina, Gen. Lucas
Caballero, Jorge Holguin and Jose ID.
Amgulo. Gen. Reyes, Mr.. Holguin. secre-
tsry of the commission, and Mr.. Amgulo
are at the Arlington Hotel. while Gen.
Caballero and others of the party are at
| the Shoreham Gen. Reyes was met at the
station this morning by a son Of DR..
| Eerran.
There was some talk as to the possible
significance of the call of the Chilean min
| lister. Senor Don Joaquin Walker Martinez.
on Gen. Reyes shortly after his arrival.
The greeting between Senior Martinez and
Gen. Reyes was most affecuonate one.
/ their arms being thrown about one an
| other. The minister remained with tha
Colombians chatting pleasantly for more
than hour. 1t was stated that Gen.
| Reyes and Senior Martinez are old friends
and companions. Both were members OF
the recent Pan-American congress in Mex
| leo and have long been intimately asso-
ciated. The call, 1t was stated. was purely
| a friendly one, being personal throughout
and not touching the Colombian Panama
| situation.
| DIR. Herran, speaking for Cen Reyes. said
| this afternoon that no program has as yet
| been mapped out. The commissioners will
| be presented to the State Department by
DR.. Herran, but he has made no engage.
| ment so far. Secretary Hay was out OF
| the city today, so no progress in regard to
! the presentation could be made. 1t Is be-
lieved that the Colomhans will go from
| this city to New York some time next week
| and will consult there with a number OF
| their countrymen, and in all probability
| with the agents of Colombian bondholders,
| who are anxious that Panama shall share
| In proper degree the Colombian debt.
Before his conference with DIR. Herran
| Gen. Reyes talked to a representative OF
| the Associated Press about his mission TO
| Washington. He said:
Would Give the Canal Concession.
l ha 90
| my refraining from discussing my mission,
which is of confidential character, but OF
| the offers which Colombia is ready TO make
/ desire to say that my energies and those
| of my followers will be devoted TO the
| granting of the canal concessions to the
| United States without the payment of a
| cent. Even at this Colombia will be the
gamer"
Are you authorized by President Mar
| roquin to make this offer to the Washing
ton government General Reyes was
| asked.
THAT would be divulging my instructions
before / have executed them. / cannot say
more about this now,' he replied.
| "You can further say" continued the gen.
eral, that all Colombia is afire with zeal
| for the building of the canal by the United
| States. and that the unfortunate political
! troubles, which were the sole cause OF the
| treaty's death before the Colombian COM
gress have entirely disappeared. We want
the canal and / have come to Washington
|
are prepared to accept. 1 come with in
| structions from the president of Colomb q
direct. Ny mission in no way interferes
| with the prerogatives of DR.. Herran, tho
Colombian charge, for whom both my gov
| ernment and myself personally have the
| greatest respect. shall be in daily con-
| ference with him and we shall work In en-
| tire harmony. DIR. Herran will go to the
State Department with me and present me
| to Secretary Hay
Indignation in Colombia.
what is the feeling in Colombia about
| the Panama revolution" General Reyes
was asked. Feeling is running high. and
| there is indignation over the events on
! the isthmus We can end will put down
| the rebellion IL not interfered with from
/ the outside. So tense is the feeling ana
SO national the spirit of determination to
| bring the isthmus back into the republic
| that President MarroQuin win have no
trouble IN raising an army twice the ssss