Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1903-11-20

COLUMBIA OFFERS A TRUCE
THREE OF HER GENERALS ON
| DIPLOMATIC MISSION.
Will Offer Satisfactory Treaty and
Other Concessions to Bring the
lsthmus Back to Colombia's Fold
Arrival of German Steamer Caused
Excitement at Colon.
Bogota, Nov. 16.-Generals Reyes,
Holguin and Ospina left here today for
Panama on a diplomatic mission, with
full power to offer the isthmians a
satisfactory treaty and such other con.
cessions as may bring the istnmus
back to the Colombian union. 1t is
expected that satisfactory arrange
ments will be made, as such are heart
lily desired here. News from the state
department at Washington is anxious
ly awaited.
Steamer Scotia Arrives.
Colon, Nov. 16.-The overdue Ger
man steamer Scotia arrived from the
coast at shutdown flying the Colombian
flag. Her agents signalled the Scotia
to come alongside her wharf, but she
is now anchored mile and a half from
the harbor. Cutters from the United
States auxiliary cruiser Dixie are ply
ing to and from the Scotia, which has
no communication with the shore.
There is great excitement, as it is said
that General Reyes and his staff are
aboard the vessel. The United States
converted cruiser Mayfower left her
anchorage and steamed to meet the
Scotia. The moment the Scotia an
chored 20 marines from the Dixie were
landed here.
Marroquin Not Popular.
Panama, Nov. 16.-President Alar-
roquin's statement, as conveyed in a
cablegram to General Plaza, president
of Eucador, that General Reyes, Ca
balleros, Ospina and Holguin are now
marching on the isthmus to suppress
the isthmian traitors" has set the en-
tire population of the isthmus laugh
ing. Protected by the impenetrability
of the land and the many leagues of
coast line separating the isthmus from
Colombia and confident that the Uni.-
ed States intends to prevent the land.
ing of Colombian soldiers from the
sea, the isthmians feel that their Sc
curity is absolute.
The loss of the isthmian territory
is, of course, a tragedy for Colon
bia. The government at Bogola is
probably ignorant of the attitude taken
by the United States government dur
ing the last two weeks. In frenzy
to save its face" to appease an angry
and disappointed populace and to sat
isfy the public demand for some ap-
pearance Of activity and an attempt to
save the honor and the territorial in
tegrity Of Colombia, the government
is no doubt promising and threatening
to send forces to the coast and to take
other aggressive steps. The realiza-
ton by Colombia Of the impossibility
of sending troops to the isthmus would
not necessarily deter 1t from taking
these steps, which, as already stated,
are intended merely to satisfy the peo-
pie. Well informed people on the 18TH
mus believe that the Colombian gov
eminent is going through all these
forms of organizing expeditions not
merely for the foregoing reasons, but
owing to the necessity of forestalling
or of weakening the threatened revolu-
tionary outbreak in Bogota-
The growing feeling against Presi-
dent Marroquin is believed to be due
to the fact that he did not show suf-
fcient determination to effect the rati-
fication of the canal treaty, which
would have saved the isthmus to Co.
lombia, and because he appointed Cen
eral Obaldia governor of the depart
ment of Panama after Obaldia had de-
clared that he would remain Colon
bian if the treaty were ratified, but
that otherwise he would only be a
Panamaian. General Obaldia was born
in Chiriqui in the state Of Panama.
Mariners and others familiar with the
coast on both sides of the isthmus de-
clare that any attempt to march an
evolutionary army from any part of
Colombia to the isthmus would be
futile. Both coasts consist Of impas-
sable jungles and swamps and rivers,
without towns or roads or any means
for the provisioning of an army. The