The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-30
Much Speculation as to the
Actual Mission of Cen
eral Reyes in This COun-
try.
CANNOT HOPE TO SECURE
RESTORATION OF PANAMA
Is He Seeking to Divert At
tentiOn From a Military
Movement Against Re-
beIIiOuS State?
who's who from Colombia?

who's who from Colombia?
This is she question agitsting diploma
lists who are interested in the outcome
Of the isthmian CONTROVERSY.
Is DR.. Reyes clothed with greater au-
tbority than d. 2Ierran, the Colombian
charge G'affai. es.
General Reyes has one answer 20 this
question and Dr.. Herran another. Dr
Herran has silenced all the members
OF the Reyes party and the Bolivar
commission, and the Colombians are
now holding warm conferences IN
which they are attempting 70 ma ous
what stems should be taken to bring The
South American republic cut OF the
present suuabble in the best form
General Reyes is known TO have
undergone a change of mind as 10 the
best method of looking after his coun-
trv's interests here. War talk did not
make any impression on the United
States. 1t is now presumed that Dr.
Herran's advice is to be taken and
an ATTEMPT will now probably be made
to bring Colombia out of the middle
with all the money possible The re-
turn OF Panama to the Colombian union,
and the retraction of all the steps taken
by the United States Government are
so far out OF the question that they
viii probably not be suggested
It's believed DR.. Reyes and his party
will not n,ake move until after the
formal "a iication Of a canal treaty by
Panama. and its return TO the United
states. They are doubtless waiting TO
discover what public sentiment viii be
here in the United States.
Reyes Without Mission.
Attempts on the part Of General Reyes
and other Colombians TO bring about a
reopeni..g Of canal negotiations with the
Cnited states VIII be fruitless. State De
partment officials regard General Reyes
mission as a further demonstration OF
the failure OF Colombians TO realize
that September 2. the date Of the ex-
piration of the time for the ratification
OF the Hsy-Herran treaty. stood foi
anything.
The State Department has not yet
been asked to give General Reyes an au-
dience. and it IS not believed he viii be
presented to Secretary Hay for several
DAYS In fact, IL is not believed by Of
fciaIs who are in position 70 know the
real mission Of General Reyes that il
makes any difference whether the peace
commissioner meets the Secretary OF
State.
Were the United States inclined 70 re
sumo negotiations with Colombia such
action would not be impossible. Ever
the assurance that Colombia would rat
ify a canal treaty favorable in every
way TO the Uni5ed States would not
tempt this Government 10 expose itself
again 10 the dIny-oallying tactics at 30
gotta
War Talk Increasing.
Reports from the United States min.
lister at Bogota and other sources thai
war talk ia Colombia is becoming NOR,
widespread. calls attention 10 the fac
that even II General Reyes mission u
the United States accomplshes no othei
purpose Il viii serve 10 give time fol
the Colombian armies 70 mobilize an,
equip in case a campaign should be un
dertaken against the isthmus- II fl
now conceded that passage OF troops b.
land from Colombia 10 the isthmus il
not impossible.
South American travellers have com
forward TO deny this, and the Colon
bian commissioners themselves befor
their arrival in Washington openly ad
mitted that expeditions from Colombo
successfully made the "Trip when IN
first Panama canal was under way.
is now thought the commissioners be
ueve IL morz prudent 10 encourage tn
opinion that troops cannot cross throug
the mountains and jungles, so as 70 gai
time in case they should decide upo
this course. General Reyes IS a goo
leader. For twelve years General ReyC
Travelled in South America, and ever
step he took was through a regiO
hitherto unknown.
In his journeys from Panama to Pat
agonia ne laid bare the secrets OF
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