Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-26
GENERAL REYES NOTE
Unavailing Efforts to Obtain
Copies ofIt.
AN ENERGETIC PROTEST
SUBMISSION OF THE DISPUTE TO
THE HAGUE PROPOSED.
Army Transports Being Put in Condi-
ton for Early Service-The Olym-
pia Sails for Cartagena.


newspaper men to obtain copies of the
diplomatic note prepared by Gen. Reyes,
the Colombian minister, with the advice OF
DR.. Herran secretary of the Colombian
legation, and Judge Wayne MacVeagh, for
merly United States Attorney General, and
submitted to Secretary Hay at his home
the day before Christmas. 1t is said that
this note in addition to making ar ener-
eetic protest against the part alleged to
have been taken by the United States In
making the secession of Panama a success,
proposes submission of the principal ques-
tions at issue to the arbitration of The
Hague tribunal.
Although neither Secretary Hay nor any
of the other parties conversant with the
character and contents of the Reyes note
will say anything at this time for pubIca-
ton, it seems to be taken for granted that
the note will be transmitted to Congress In
compliance with the resolution calling 1or
all correspondence relating to Panama, and
that it will become public in that way even
If it is not given to the press before the re-
assembling of Congress. Gen. Reyes Will
not decide upon his future movements or
the date of his return to Colombia until
he has received the reply of the United
States to his formal proposition for set
tlement of the points in controversy.
He spent a busy day yesterday in prepa-
ration of his mail dispatches for Colombia.
1t is supposed these dispatches contained
a complete copy of the statement he has
made to Secretary Hay concerning the Sc
cession of the department of Panama: Late
in the afternoon Secretary Root Acung
Secretary Loomis of the State Department
and Senior Walker Martinez, the Cmlean
minister called on Dr. Reyes. Their visits,
1t is understood were entirely or social
character.
Putting Transports in Condition.
War Department officials admit that the
TRANSPORTS Sumner and Mcclellan have
been put in condition for sea service and
that the transports Sherman, Buford and
Crook, at San Francisco. are also being
fitted out for active service. The two YES
sells at New York have been in state OF
readiness for several weeks, but so TAR no
calls have been made for them by the war
Department. It Is expected that one OF
them will be utilized in bringing TO the
United States the artillery troops now sta
toned near Havana and at Santiago. Prl-
marily all of these transports are intenoeo
for the Manila service, but officials make
no concealment of the fact that they want
to be ready for any emergency which may
arise, and should the government desire 10
use any of them for the transportation OF
troops to Panama the ships will be avail
able for that purpose. Still, the positive as
sertion is made that no orders have been
received by the QuartermaSter'S off1ce with
that end in view; it is simply, it is stated. a
case of being prepared II the occasion
arises.
The Sherman recently has returned from
Manila. She is in need Of some repairs, and
the present intention of the quartermaster's
office is to send her back to the Philippines
on February l. The Buford has been laid
up at San Francisco for two years. and
Just now she is being overhauled and some
coal-saving appliances installed The
Crook Is In need of thorough overhauhng
and renovating, which is being given her.
The Olympia Sails for Cartagena.
1t is announced at the Navy Department
that Rear Admiral Coghlan's flagship the
Olympia, left Colon this morning for Carta-
gena for the purpose of escorting United
States Minister Beaupre from the latter
port in state to Colon. where he will en-
bark on a regular passenger steamer for
New York. Mr.. Beaupre has been granted
leave of absence, and the diplomatic affairs
of the United States at Bogota have been
left in charge of Mr.. Snyder, secretary of
legation.
Italy Recognizes Panama.
Acting .-ecretary Loomis has been noti-
fed by the Italian embassy that the gov
ernment of Italy has recognized the new
republic of Panama.
Panama Postal Rates.
Consul General Gudger. at Panama, has
notified this government that the republic
of Panama has reduced it's postal rates
80 per cent The foreign rate for each
fifty grammes or less Is equivalent to 4
cents in United States money, and the
domestic rate Is the equivalent of cents
United States money.