Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-27
NO TROOPS RAISED
Talk at Bogota About March
ing Upon Panama.
CAPITAL Is EXCITED
REPORT AS TO GEN. REYES NILS
SION TO WASHINGTON.
His Reception Will Depend Upon His
Observation-Disclosures Varilla at
State Department.

at EOROtd, WeuneSudy, ia "iANiA ~ -
that considerable excitement still prevails
in the Colombian capital; that there Is
much talk of raising armies to march upon
the isthmus but that no troops have been
raised.
A report has reached the department
from Boeota that General Reyes mission
to Washington is primarily to stir up op-
position among United States senators
against the Panama policy of the admins
tration. There is also talk of the forma-
ton of a combination of South American
countries in support of the position of CO.
lombia.
Respecting the mission of General Reyes
to Washington, it is said at the State De-
partment that much depends upon the ma
ture of his credentials as, to the reception
he will have. 1t seems assured that II ne
is presented by the Colombian charge, Dr.
Herran, he will be accorded respectful
hearing at the department But 1t is also
pointed out that his activities must be con-
fined to regular channels and as an alien,
and any attempt on his part to influence
by direct representations any other than
the executive branch of the United States
government would scarcely be viewed with
equanimity.
Colombians Troops Will Be Exci-ided.
Respecting the statements attributed to
that Colombia would send 100000 men into
!! Panama overland the fact is recalled that
the Instructions to the United States naval
officers on the isthmus were such that they
would not admit to the neighborhood of
the isthmus any hostile forces. That was
understood by4th officers in question to
mean, that hostile Colombian troops would
not be allowed to enter Panama at any
point, either by water or by land, and SO
far there has been no change in the in
structions given to the naval officers on
that point.
Minister Varilla at State Department.
Mr.. Varila, the minister from Panama,
called at the State Department today and
officially notified Acting Secretary Loomis
of the action taken yesterday by the
Panama junta in deciding to 'ratify the
canal treaty as soon as it reaches them.
He expressed himself as having no lears of
an invasion of Panama by army n
Colombia, and declared tie utter impos 81
bility of an expedition over land
When asked if he would receive General
Reyes and those accompany ng him to
washington, the m n.ster said that he
would do so If request for a conference
Is submitted. but he was unable to see
wherein 1t would be fruitful of results be-
cause, as he put it. Panama had seived
the meal and 1t has been eaten"
Private advices received by the minis err
he says, are to the effect that the co ming
to Washington of many represen atives
or Colombia, while ostens bly, for tie pur-
pose or arranging peace terms with tire
Panaman delegates, If possible In reality,
is destined to formulate campa gn havir e
for its object the creation of a feeling
among the political parties of the Uni e.
states and the representatives of the
South American republics against the ratt-
ncation OF the treaty by the United States
Senate.
In support of that view Minister varil,a
Proc
addressing note of protest to the United
States Senate instead of addressing it to
the President through the regular diplo-
matte channels.
Military Movement Not Contemplated,
Lieut.. Gen. Young. chief of staff, was
again today asked in view of the repeated
statements of Gen. Reyes and others, that
ii the mission of the general to Washing
ton was failure Colombia would march
on Panama with an army of 100 600 men.
whether the United States was contemplate
He emphatically declared that no problem
for the defense of Panama against an at
tacking army had been considered by the
general staff. and that the subject had
been given no consideration whatsoever
Cartagena's Action Unwarranted.
The State Department officials are await
ing a report from the United States con-
sui at Cartagena respecting the refusal of
the port authorities to allow him to COM
municate with the British merchant
steamer Trent. 1t is the belief at the de-
partment that the officials at Cartagena,
which is in the province of Bolivar, are
acting entirely without authority from
the Colombian government at Bogota.
While the State Department cannot act in
the case of it's consul until the matter is
made the subject of formal report, it is
believed that the British government will
not tolerate such interference with it's
merchant shipping in time of peace.
Panama and Colombia's Debt.
In the opinion of DR.. Thomas Herran, the
Colombian charge, the contention of the
Panamans that Panama cannot be expect
ed to assume a pro rata share of the Co.
lombian debt for the reason that Panama
was not a part Of Colombia at the time the
debt was incurred Is not sound. The Co
lombian charge pointed out today that the
decisive battle by which the United States
Of Colombia freed itself from the Spanish
yoke occurred in 1919 and from that date
Panama had always been regarded as an in
tegral part of Colombia. The point made
by the Panamans that the final papers
uniting Colombia and the state Of Panama
were not signed until 1925 is regarded at the
Colombian legation as weak excuse to
becloud the real facts in the case Although
1t is admitted that probably certain for
OF Colombia did not occur Immediately after
the decisive battle of 1819 1t is held that
the Panamans are not acting in accordance
with the spirit of the transactions from 1919
to 1925 in attempting to be relieved of their
Just share Of the Colombian debt.
Minister varilla Notified.
Officiai confirmation of the reported de-
termination Of the Panama junta to ratify
the Hay-Varilla Panama canal treaty at
once was received by Minister Varilia yes
terday afternoon. The State Department
being closed. Mr.. Varilla communicated the
news Informally to Mr.. Loomis. who is act
Ing secretary in the absence Of Mr. Hay
The dispatch to Minister Varilla was as
follows:
In view of the appreciation given by the dele
gates Amador and Boyd 1.-THE commissioners who
were sent by the government OF Panama to confer
with Mr.. variIlal to the Hay Bunau varilla treaty
you authorized to notify officially the govern
ment OF the United States that the doc
ument is received by the Junta Of the government