The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1903-12-22
DIPLOMAFSAT WORK
Powers Strive to Prevent
War With Colombia.
BOCOTA MUST EXPECT NO SYMPATHY
Reyes Has Been Told That His Gov.
eminent Cannot Depend ON Euro
peRn Powers to Interfere, aB
They All Want the Canal.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22-Dlplomat.
ic pressure is being brought to bear
| on Colombia by several European pow
ers to prevent war between that coun.
try and the United States. The first
step in this direction already has been
taken by several foreign powers
through their representatives here, who
have Informed General Rafael Reyes
OF the futility of any attempt by Co
lombia to retake Panama, declaring
that 1t will result only in precipitating
the Bogota government into war with
the United States, and have said to
him that the result of such catastrO.
phe Colombia herself must realize. Ii
this is not sufficient the representatives
of these countries at Bogota will be in
struCted TO inform President Mario
quin that Colombia can expect no sym.
pathy from the European powers In
any move she may make on Panama.
which would inevitably involve her in
war with the United States.
The members of the diplomatic corps
have been informed by General Reyes
himself that he fears he can with difi-
Guilty check his people much longer.
General Reyes is not talking for publ
cation, but TO several European ambas.
sailors he has confided his fears with
frankness and has said that he is doing
everything in his power TO prevent an
outbreak before the conclusion of his
mission, but that, although his inau-
ence with the army is considerable, he
is so far away that II Is difficult for
him 10 make this felt as strongly ls If
he were on the ground and in COM
mand.
Realization OF the true situation. it
is said, will not prevent General Reyes
from calling on the United States for
a reference to The Hague Of several
Of the questions at issue. 1t is on this
point that European diplomats have
told General Reyes that it is expecting
too much to expect this government to
submit any phase OF the Panama mat
ter TO The Hague. Several ambassa.
doris have earnestly advised the gen
eral to impress on his people the fact
that Europe wants the isthmian canal
and that Colombia can expect no sym
pathy from that quarter. 1t has fur
Their been pointed out by these diplo-
mats that the proffered sympathy Of
several South American republics can
avail Colombia nothing in the event
of war with the United States.
1t is hoped that the receipt Of this
news in Bogota will do much to calm
the feeling there and hold the Colon
bians in check until General Reyes can
return.
Great Britain and the Netherlands
have taken pains to let General Reyes
know indirectly that Colombia reckons |
without her host if she interprets their |
delay in recognizing the republic of |
Panama as an evidence of their sympa- !
thy for Colombia or as due to other |
than a desire TO protect the interests |
Of their fnanciers, who are the largest |
holders Of government bonds. 1t is |
said here TO be unlikely that our naval |
in isthmian waters will |
20 10 the extent of dislodging the Co |
lombian force, numbering 100 men. !
that has landed on the island of Pines. |
On this point, however, the policy of |
the government has not been definitely /
decided