The Washington times., 1903-12-20
Correspondence Extends
From April to November.
Minister Waivers as to
Fate Of the Treaty.
SECRETARY OF STATE
SENDS COVERT THREAT
General Reyes Friendly and
Was Chief Source of In
formation in Stirring Time
at Bogota.

at bOgOtd.
The President yesterday transmitted
70 the Senate and House additional cor
respondence relating to the Panama
Canal treaty. The correspondence COW
ers the period between the early part of
April and the first of November. and is
between Mr.. Beaupre and the State De-
partment
1t appears from these dispatches that
Mr.. Beaupre believed as early as April
that the Hay-Herran contention would
not be ratified by the Colombian CON
gress. although in the course of the
summer his opinion fiuctuated some
what
First he reported grave doubt as to
the fate Of the treaty. and afterward
became convinced the government had
in the election secured "A majority and
could pass any measures which IL fav-
ored. When the congress assembled,
however, and the treaty was taken up
public sentiment had become so in
famed against the convention hy agi-
tation in the newspapers that again Mr..
Beaupre expressed the belief, weeks be-
fore final action was taken, that the
treaty could not pass without amend
ments.
A significant part Of the correspond
ence Is the instruction given by Secre-
tary Hay TO Mr.. Beaupre on June 10
intimate to the minister OF foreign af-
fairs that II the ratification OF the treaty
was defeated or unnecessarily delayed
the friendly understanding between the
two countries would be seriously COM
promised. and that the action of the
American Congress next winter might
be such that every friend of Colombia
would regret it.
Mr.. BesHpre says the opponents OF the
treaty construed this as a threat. and
sought TO make IL an excuse for the re-
JectiOn Of the treaty after the conven-
uon had failed.
Reyes Was Friendly.
Much Of the confidential information
which Dir. Beaupre seems TO have re-
ccived as 70 the attitude of the Colom-
bian government appears 10 have been
obtained from General Reyes who was
SOLICITORS for the adoption of the treaty
Under date of April Z, Mr.. Beaupre
says there is much doubt as to the rati-
hcstion of the treaty, but notwithstand-
ing this statement. on April Is following
he SAYS he is convinced the Colombian
people expect no better terms than SlO-
10000. conceded to be sufficient to aid
materially In placing the country on a
good financial basis. He intimates that
tho newspapers began the agitation
asa the treaty and inflamed the pub
lie az Vst its ratification
In u communication of April 10 oc-
ours a statement which is crossed out
with pen and a request made in hand
writing 10 omit, in which Mr. Beaupre
says nc is convinced the opposition TO
the treaty is fostered by the government
IN order TO make it appear that The
needs OF Colombia are such that more
money must be paid. and to that end
tho government sought amendments to
the treaty.
on May 2S Mr.. Beaupre says the Pres
idont OF Colombia has been advised that
the United States has sent a large num-
bcr OF employees TO the isthmus, and he
desires 10 know what explanation he
shall make: that If true, it will intensity
feeling against ratification. He was in
structed to deny the report.
In & communication of June TO Mr.
Beaupre. Secretary Hay said. after stat
ing that Colombia had suggested the
treaty: IF Colombia should now reject
the convention or unduly delay its ratifi-
cation. the friendly understanding be-
tween the two countries would be seri-
ously compromise and action might be
taken by Congress next winter which
every friend OF Colombia would regret.
Confidential Communicate substance OF
this verbally 20 the minister, OF foreign
affairs"
Beaupre Obeyed Orders.
In reply TO this Mr. Beaupre says he
did as instructed. and he writes that
the first question the minister asked
was what action Congress contemplated.
whether directly against Colombia or en-
tering into negotiations with Nicaragua
for the construction OF a canal by that
route. Mr.. Beaupre replied that in this
matter he had no further instructions
On July q Mr.. Beaupre wrote that the
friends OF the government were in con-
troll OF congress and expressed the be-
lief that anything the government de-
sired would pass.
on jelly u. Mr. Beaupre sent 20 Sec
Tetary Hay the following: CONFIDENTIAL
Have received information personally
that a paraphrase of your cipher tele-
gram OF June 2 was read IN the senate
in secret session. Created sensation.
Construed by many as a threat OF direct
retaliation against Colo lbia I'm case the
treaty is not ratified"
On July y. Mr.. Beaupre informs Sec
retary Hay that General Reyes has
advised him that ratification OF the
treaty was impossible without the adop-
tion OF two amendments. one providing
for payment OF siOO0O,O00 TO Colombia
by the canal company. and another In
creasing The payment by the United
States TO Sl5O00.0OO
on July 81. Mr. Hay informed Mr..
Besupre that the Senate would not ap-
prove OF the payment Of an additional
suuf~to Colombia.
On August p AIr Beaupre cabled
''Treety rejected. Confidential. Don't ac-
cept this as final. There is stin some
hope" On the same day in letter Mr.
Beaupre says that General Reyes has
informed him that the rejection OF the