Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-12
No Confirmation of Mario
GUMS Reported Resignation.
OPPOSITION TO CANAL
AGAINST RATIFICA-
TON OF THE TREATY.
DR.. Herran Without Official Informa-
ton Regarding Attitude Of
the New Congress.

No confirmation has been received here,
either by the State Department or by the
Colombian legation. of the reported resig-
nation of President Marroquin Of Colombia
on account of political troubles. Such a
step on the part of the president, however,
would not be surprising, as he Is nearly
eighty years Of age and Is Of quiet, retir-
ing disposition. The understanding here has
been all along that President Marroquin
Is favorable to the ratification of the
Panama canal treaty; in fact, 1t was under
his instructions that DR.. Herran, the CO.
lombian charge here, negotiated the treaty
with the State Department. The determined
and persistent opposition to the treaty
which has manifested itself in many parts
of Colombia. 1t is surmised. probably has in
fluenced the president in the action he is
reported to have taken.
General Raphael Reyes, the second vice
president, who will assume the presidency
in the event of the retirement of Marroquin
holds the position of 'designado' for the
Office, having been selected by the Colom-
bian congress in 1898 for that position. His
title to the designation, however, is dis
puted, as the selection usually is made
every two years by the Colombian congress-
ana the last congress failed to make a Sc
lection. General Reyes consequently holds
his designation from the congress of 1885,
since there Is some dispute to the title
OF General Reyes to the position of dis
ignado, the one designated by congress
to succeed to the presidency in the event
OF the death or incapacity of the president
and vice president, it is of interest to note
the order of succession in Colombia. Fol-
lowing the "desfgnado," members of the
cabinet In such order as congress may die
tate, succeed to the high office, then gov
ernors of the states. 1t is understood here
that according to the latest designation by
or
would follow General Reyes.
1t is pointed out that there is a general
law in Colombia which provides that no
officer of the government shall relinquish
qualified, and 1T is assumed here that Cen
eral Reyes holds to the title of "desig-
nado," under the law, although the last
congress failed to designate him again.
Gen. Reyes and the Canal.
The attitude which General Reyes will
assume toward the pending canal treaty is
matter Of anxious speculation by the Off
cials here. He has been recorded on both
sides of the Question-for and against rati-
fcatton-and no one knows how he now
stands. 1t is held there that the call issued
by President Marroquin for a special ses-
sion of the Colombian congress to meet the
10th Of next month, will hold good, re-
gardless Of any change in the Administra-
ton, just as 1t would in the United States,
so that the attitude Of the congress and the
Colombian administration will probably
very soon be disclosed. That fact gives
comfort to the officials here, for, most of
all. they dread delay.
May Revert to Nicaragua Route.
II 1t shall appear shortly that the Colom-
bian government is unwilling to consum-
mate the treaty, or is disposed to defer
final action upon 1t beyond the reasonable
time" mentioned in the Spooner act. the
State Department, 1T is said. will at once
endeavor to reopen negotiations with Mic
aragua and Costa Rica with view to OBJ
tanning control Of the alternate route for a
canal through those countries. In fact,
talked with Senor Corea, the Nicaraguan
minister, and Senor Calvo. the minister
from Costa Rica. 1t is said by parties to
the negotiations that If they are resumed
it will be upon the distinct understanding
that the United States government definite
ly abandonS the Panama route, for so much
ill-feeling was excited in Nicaragua and
Costa Rica by the dropping of the Mica
ragua route after the protocols had been
drawn looking to it's acquisition that the
resident ministers of the two countries here
are very loath to take up the subject again
without an express agreement that they are
not to be used to club the Colombian gov
ernment into terms.
The officials here, however, feel very con-
fdent that it will not be necessary to resort
again to the Nicaraguan route. for they be-
Panama negotiations are solely attributable
to efforts on the part of the Colombians to
make the most of the opportunity to induce
the Panama Canal Company to divide with
them some part Of the sc, 600 to be re-
ceived by 1t from the United States
Opposition in Colombia.
Private advices from Colombia state that
there are three elements opposed to ratifica-
tion of the Panama canal treaty. One ele-
ment antagonizes the feature giving the
United States perpetual control, another
urges that the indemnity and annuity is
not sufficient, and the third element consists
of revolutionary spirits who fear that with
the Colombian treasury enriched by ten
will be so increased as to destroy all hope
Of success from any revolutionary move
ment
DIR. Herran, the Colombian charge daft
faires here, Is without official information
regarding the attitude of the majority of
the members-elect to the congress. When
the Colombian congress Is convened June 20
there will be just one month for cOnsidera-
tOn of the treaty and such other matters
as may be called before it by the president,
as the regular session meets July 90 If the
president sends the treaty to congress first
under Colombia's rules of procedure no
other subject can be considered until that
is disposed of. Reorganization of the
finances of the government Is the next most
important matter before the Colombian gov
ernment, and as the determination of the
question OF the treaty has an important
bearing on the finances 1t is assumed here
that the treaty will be sent to congress
first in order that 1t may be known whether
the governments finances are to be en-
riched by the addition Of ten million dol
lars. or whether the congress must proceed
on the basis OF the governments present
financial condition