The Irish standard., 1903-12-19
Secretary LOOMS
CAUSES A STIR
State Department Official Makes
Charges Against Colombia
Which Create Gossip.
i ClN. REYES Declines TO MAKE
COMMENT ON The SUBJECT
Commnndnnt of Marine Corps Orders
Formation of n Caribbean Sea Bat
tnlion-Au Reported Quiet ON the
Northern Coast of Pannmn-Trcaty
Returns to Washington.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE speech of
Assistant Secretary of State LoomiS
Tuesday night, at the banquet of the
Quill club in New York, in which he laid
bare some pertinent facts regarding the
attitude of Colombia toward the Hay
Herran treaty, was the subject of con-
siderable gossip here Wednesday, and
there was much speculation as to what
effect it would have on the future course
of Gen. Reyes, the special envoy of Co.
lombia now in Washington. When seen
"Wednesday Gen. Reyes admitted that he
had read Mr.. LOOMS address, but de-
clined to make a statement. II am a
diplomat" said he, land it would ill be-
come me to make any comment"
,$Reyex Preparing Statement.
Gen. Reyes is still engaged in the
preparation of the statement he will
submit to the state department., and
while refusing to disclose the nature Of
1t said that much of 1t will be devoted to
an argument setting out the reasons why
the United States should see to 1t that
Panama shall assume her share of the
Colombian debt Gen. Reyes is uncer-
tain when he will file the document with
the department, but he thought it would
be within the next few days.
Mr.. Loomis, in his charges at the ban
quet, intimated strongly that Colon
bias scheme was to delay the treaty, de-
clare the French company's concession
lapsed, and then sell it to the United
States for $4O,000,000. If the Bogota
scheme had been carried out France
would have rushed men-of-war to Co.
Gus trouble.
AT the instance of Secretary Moody,
Brig. Gen. George F. Elliott, command
ant of the marine corps has issued or
ders for the formation of a battalion of
marines to be known as the Caribbean
sea battalion. This battalion will be
regularly attached to the Caribbean
sea squadron, though its immediate
destination is Colon. 1t will be assem-
bled al Philadelphia as rapidly as pos
sible and the Dixie already has left Co.
Ion to return to that place with the new
battalion.
Rear Admiral Coghlan. in cable
gram to the navy department dated Co.
ion, December Is, says that all is quiet
on the northern coast. 1t is assumed
from Admiral Coghlan's dispatch that
the Atlanta and the Mayflower have
completed their reconnoiter and that he
is thereby enabled to give the depart
ment positive information regarding
conditions on the southern coast.
Trenty Back in Washington.
A big expressman brought the Hay
BunauVarilla canal treaty, inclosed in
a large steel box, to the state depart
ment Wednesday and deposited it in the
office of Chief Clerk Michael. The ex-
pressman also had two tin-bound boxes
which contained keys to the big steel
box and to the smaller box contained
within, inclosing the treaty. The vari-
Gus boxes were prettily sealed with red
and blue silk ribbon, with tag bearing
an address to Minister Bunau- Varilla,
care Of John Hay, secretary of state.
The Panaman minister is expected to
arrive in Washington from New York in
day or two and the packages will be
held subject to his order.
Until the boxes are opened the
state department officials cannot tell
whether the Enclosed treaty is the orig
inal treaty, drawn here, countersigned
in Panama and returned; or whether it
is the ordinary ratification treaty sup
posed to have been exchanged in Pana-
ma. 1t will make little difference in the
result, but the form of exchange may be
affected. Minister Bunau-Varilla will
main in technical charge of the treaty
Until the United States has either ap-
proved or rejected it. If the treaty is
approved he will exchange this copy
with one proposed by the state depart
mcnt, thus completing the negotiations
and putting the convention at once into
force.
The cruiser Olympia. which has I'M
Gergone repairs at the Norfolk navy
yard, will sail Thursday for Colon for
service as the flagship Of Rear Admiral
Coghlan. commanding the Caribbean
squadron. 1t is probable that the May
flower, now serving as flagship, will
come to Washington on being relieved
by the Olympia at Colon.
KerOaeue LamD ExulOdea