New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-20
SECESSION IN COLOMBIA
MISSION OF THE ENJOYS.
To Sound This Government, 1t Is
Thought.
[rnnm TEE TRIBUNE puREAu.l


washington Nov 19.-Considerable interest
attaches to the prospective visit to washington
Of Dioncio Jimenez and Or. Antonio k Blahco'
of Colombia. whose arrival In this country was
announced this morning i'm Galveston dispatch
TO The Tribune That they are charged with a
delicate diplomatic mission having an lmpor-
tant bearing on the preservation of the integ-
rity OF what remains Of Colombian territory Is
generally believed here by those best Informed
as to the purpose of heir visit. 1t is probable
that the ENJOYS we're under the impression that
strong representations TO this government
might result in the withdrawal of the recosni-
ton Of Panama by the United States and the
consequent holding up OF treaty negotiations
with that republic.
Finding that they are too late to interrupt
the programme of American recognition and
the signing of the treaty. it is believed that they
will attempt to ascertain from this government
what consideration will be given to a PROPOSE
ton looking TO the secession of the departments
of Cauca Antioqua and Bolivar ana their ad-
mission TO the Panama republic. They may also
sound this government as TO what would be its
attitude toward these departments should they
secede and form independent States. having no
connection with Panama or with each other
with view to ascertaining If the United states
government would throw about them the mantle
OF its protection as against Colombia. Because
OF their geographical contiguity. their well
known restlessness under the domination OF
the central government at Bogota and the close
nolitical and personal affiliations of the popu-
lation there is little to doubt that should
secession be decided upon Bolivar would join
hands with Caucs and Antoquia and that these
three departments would surrender their quasi
sovereignty for the purpose of furthering their
mutual interests.
THEIR STATUS IN DOUBT.
Both of the commissioners the way
to washington are residents of Cartagena, the
capital Of Bolivar. and it is an open question
whether or not they have come to the United
States as the accredited representatives OF the
Colombian government Messrs Jimenez and
Blanco are prominent in the political and bust
ness life Of Bolivar. The former represented
the department in the lower branch of Con-
gress, and was presumably in favor of the CO.
lombian convention, although no opportunity
was afforded to the body of which he was a
member to vote on the question DR.. Blanco
has published several able papers supporting
the Hay-Herran treaty and is known to have
felt keenly the failure of the Colombian gov
eminent to ratify the treaty.
Should these departments secede, the disnte-
grafton of Colombia would inevitably follow.
Antioqua is regarded as the most prosperous
of all the departments. and has a population
approximating eight hundred thousand. Cauca
has vast mineral wealth, TO q great extent unde-
veloped but its principal city. with it's twelve
banks large business interests and modern i'm
provements, is an important mining cenare.
Cauca has furnished more chief executives to
Colombia than any other department. Bolivar
is also a department Of importance both to
population and wealth. The aggregate popula-
ton Of these dissatisfied departments is nearly
two millions For a long time feeling Of un-
rest has been known To exist throughout this
territory, and TO those who are familiar with
the situation the news of the impending seces-
sion Of Cauca Aniioquia and Bolivar causes no
surprise. They object to the central form Of
government to which they in conjunction with
the other Colombian departments returned some
years ago. after an Improbable experiment
with a federal government.
PANAMA WOULD REJECT THEM.
As a well known South American diplomat
summarized the situation: 'Centralism is tyr
amy. federalism is anarchy and the people of
South America seem unwilling or unable to halt
At an intermediate point
It can be stated however. that the Republic
OF Panama would be unalterably opposed to
federation with all any of these departments.
should they secede. In discussing the subject
tonight Minister Bunau-Varilla said:
While / have had no intimation of any nten-
ton on the part of Cauca, Antioquia or Bolivar
to secede from Colombia, can say that, in the
event of their secession. Panama would abso-
lutely refuse to listen to any OvertureS on their
part toward a federation. We welded to
the United States, contented and happy under
her protection. and we have no desire to take
another husband"