Abilene weekly reflector., 1903-12-24
PANAMA SITUATION.
Admiral Walker VIII Report on
Isthmian Affairs to President.
COLOMBIA TROOPS NOT TO Be FEARED
The Refusal Of the United States to Refer
the Panama Question to The Hague In
dorsed BY Europe-Patriotic Meet
ings Held at Bogota.

uOfBou Dy Europo-fotfiOuc Moot-
ings Held at Bogota.
Washington, Dec. 23.-A full and de-
tailed report Of the condition Of af-
fairs on the isthmus as he saw them
will be made to President Roosevelt
and to Secretary Hay by Admiral
John G. Walker, chairman Of the 18TH
milan canal commission, who returned
to Washington from Colon last night
The admiral's stay ON the isthmus COW
cred period Of about four weeks, dur
ing which he went over the ground
very thoroughly, particularly with ref
erence to the condition Of the canal
property. Admiral Walker went to
Colon as the representative Of the
president soon after the republic was
proclaimed and in this capacity has
had an excellent opportunity to &C.
quaint himself with what has oc-
CURED.
The admiral had little to add to
what he had to say on his arrival In
New York yesterday regarding exist
ing conditions on the isthmus. "The
Panama government" he said, "is
composed of excellent, capable men
who have the confidence Of the peo-
pie. Everything is orderly and quiet
and had not known that revolution
mad taken place before l arrived there
there was nothing to show there had
been any changes. The only thing
that was apparent was the fact that
] could not get as much silver for an
American dollar as had In previous
trips to the country. The government
ofiicials express confidence that the
coming constitutional convention will
indorse the ratification Of the Hay
Bunau-Varilla Panama canal treaty"
The admiral said the isthmians have
no fear that the Colombians will at !
tempt to reconquer the county. There
is not, he said, trail in all Panama
of sufficient width to drive wagon, /,
Colombia has never built trail OF :
constructed a bridge in Panama. The
impassability Of the country renders
1t unlikely, in the admirals opinion
that any wariike measures Will oe un'
dertaken Dy CoiomDia' .
The END OF the rainy season IN ran
anna is now approaching" said Ad-
miral walker, ana tne weather N
not. however, l dld not see OF nea'
II -
OF case OF iever OF any Klnd wnie
was IN Panama
win Not Refer Question to The Hague
washington, Dec. zo'- heiusai ny
the united states 10 consent 10
proposition from colombia Ior a reIer-
ence OF the Panama question 10 ine
Hague tribunal Is expected ana VIII
be fufly approved by the european
powers" This statement was mace &c
q representative OF the Associated press
last night py european ambassador
OF high rank and in1uence. Tne am
bassador, In explaining the atutude OF
european powers, salu' ranama h
= closed cnApter IN the history VI na
tions and The Hague court 10 not the
place for settled questions' Dut iol
pending problems which are referreo
to 1t with the full approval OF all the
parties interested. When Russia, Ger
many and France recognized the inde-
pendence OF Panama they set their seal
of approval on the prompt action Of
the Washington government In pledg-
ing itself to guarantee and maintain
he independence OF the republic II had
previously recognized"
At the navy department the state
nent was made last night that the
Instructions to the naval commander
n isthmian waters to prevent the ,