The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-29
CANAL FOR NOTHING
co,oNBIA NOW SAYS SHE DOESN'T
WANT A CENT.
UNITED STATES WELCOME
m THE CANAL If THEY WILL
ONLY BUILD 1T.

Cen. Reyes Says the Colombian Gov
ernment Is Ready to Grant the
ruited states All the Concessions
They Want without Charging for
Tbem-Reyes Declares Colombia
VIII whip Panama Back If She Is
Let Alone.
washington, Nov. 2S.-That the re-
,ublic OF Colombia grant to the United
states all the concessions provided for
IN the Hay-Herran treaty, but abso-
mtelv free of cost, is the proposition
which Gen. Rafael Reyes, envoy of Co.
Iorbia. TO the United States on a spe-
cial mission, brings for the considera-
tjon of the officials of Washington.
Gen. Reyes, who arrived to-day, talk
cd with a representative of the Asso-
ciated Press about his mission to
washington. He said:
you will readily admit the proprie-
~ of my refraining from discussing
nv mission, which is of a confidential
character, but of the offers which Co
lombia is ready to make 1 desire to
saw that my energies and those of my
followers will be devoted to the
granting of the canal concessions to
the United States without the pay
ment of a cent. Even at this Colon
ba will be the gamer.
you can say" continued the gen.
eral that all Colombia is afire with
zeal for the building of the canal by
the United States, and that the I'M
fortunate political troubles which were
the sole cause of the treaty's death
before the Colombian Congress, have
entirely disappeared. We want the
canal and have come to Washing
ton to see what the people of the
United States are prepared to accept.
! come with instructions from the
President of Colombia direct"
Feeling Intense in Colombia.
What is the feeling in Colombia
about the Panama revolution?" Gen.
Reyes was asked.
Feeling is running high, and there
Is Indignation over the events on the
isthmus We can and will put down
the rebellion, if not interfered with
from the outside. So tense is the feel
ing and so national the spirit of de-
termination to bring the isthmus back
into the republic that President Mar
roquin will have no trouble in raising
an army twice the size necessary to
put down the disturbance. Such an
army can march overland to the 18TH
mus, the opinion of ILL advised persons
10 the contrary, notwithstanding.
What can the United States do, now
that treaty has been signed by Secre-
tary Hay and NJ. Bunau-Varilla?"
That treaty has not been ratified.
The Colombian government does not
ask the United States to aid it in put
ting down the revolution on the 18TH
mus. All we ask is to be allowed to
conduct our own affairs free from out
side Interference. If the United States
maintains a neutral position, the revo-
luton will be put down."
Not Here as n Lobbyist.
When his attention was called to the
reports from Panamanian and other
sources that he had come to Washing
ton to conduct lobby to defeat the
ratification of the treaty. he said very
emphatically:
Il authorize the Associated Press to
say for me at the outset of my visit,
that my movements here shall be
strictly in accordance with the powers
with which 1 am clothed. 1 shall deal
with the officials of the Washington
government direct, to whom l bear let
ters Of credence from Bogota. l shall
ignore such reflections upon my per
sonal and official character"
zen. Reyes had a conference to-day
with Senior Walker Martinez, the Chilli
an minister, who called soon after the
envoy arrived.