Arizona republican., 1903-12-22
Diplomats Try to Make an Impression on Colombia
PANAMA GONE FOREVER
In the Event of Trouble With the U. 5. the Bogota Government May Look for no Sympathy or Aid From any European Country.

Washington. Dee. 21-Diplomatic pressure will be brought to bear upon Colombia by several European powers to prevent war between that country and the United States. The first step in this direction already has been talk en by several foreign powers through their representatives here who have informed General Rafael Reyes of the futiliiy of any attempt by Colombia to retake Panama, declaring that it will result only in precipitating the Bogota government into a war with the Uni ted States ana they have said to him that the result of such a catastrophe Colombia herself must realize. If this is not sufficient the representatives of those countries at BogOta will be in- stIucted to inform President Marc quin that Colombia can expect TO sym oathy from the European powers in any movement she may make on Pan anna 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 diff culty check his people much longer. General Reyes is not talking for pub lication but to several European ann bassadors he has confided his fears with frankness and has said that he he is doing everything in his power to prevent an outbreak before the con- clusion of his mission but that all though his influence with the army is considerable he is so far away that it is difficult for him to make this felt as | strongly as if he were on the ground and in command.
 O;nlor,ofc vhOp1 General P b1 . | approached on the subject say that what he most fears is the result of an announcement at Boscta of the failure i of his mission He himself realizes that | the most he can hope from the gov einment of the United States is an of ! fer that it will use moral suasion to | prevail on Panama to assume her DOT
 ton of the Colombian debt. General | Reyes has been told that he can eX-
 pect nothing.
 ..I came to Washington to save what | I could from a snipwTeck' he said to
 a diplomat of his rank.
 ! Realizing 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 oi
 the questions at issue. It is on this
 point that European diplomats have told General Reyes that it is expecting too much to expect this government tc ! submit any phase of the Panama mat ter to The Hague Several ambassadors
 have earnestly advised the general tC
 impress on his people the fact thai
 Europe wants the isthmian canal anc
 that Colombia can expect no sympathy
 from that quarter.
 It has been further pointed out by
 these diplomats that the professec
 sympathy of several South American
 ranublics can avail Colombia nothing
 in the event of war with the United
 States. It is hoped that the receipt
 of this news in Bogota will do mucf
 tc calm the feeling there and hold th'
 Colombians in check until Genera
 Reyes can return. Great Britain anc , the Netherlands have taken pains t' let General Reyes know indirectly, tha
 Colombia reckons without her hos
 if she interprets their delay in recog
 nizing the republic of Panama as aI
 evidence of their sympathy with Colom : bia or as due to other than desire t protect the interests of their finan' T ciers. who are the largest holders c ? government bonds.
 [ It is said here to be unlikely that ou ! naval commanders in isthmian waters will go to the extent of dislodging tn Colombian troops which have lande' on the Island of Pines. On this point Q however. the policy Ot the governmen . has not been definitely decided.