New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-28
THE MISSION OF REYES.
TO FIGHT CANAL TREATY.
Belief That Colombian ENJOY WI
attempt to Influence Senators.
IFRox THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.


washington Nov. 27.-Conhdential advices
from the Republic Of Panama severely criticise
the purposes OF the visit Of General Reyes to
the United States. and indicate the secret under
living the motive OF his mission President Mar
,ooun having failed in his endeavor to place
before the United States Senate the contentious
~ Colombia, that government it is said. de-
.aruained 10 adopt the expedient of sending Cen
a-al Reyes here as its representative with In
s,rsctions TO present personally TO the members
:, the senate such arguments deemed
most available and convincing, from Coom-
b;sn point Of view. TO influence their action and
s,seat the wishes Of the administration. Gen
sral Reyess mission is to defeat the ratification
OF the Hay-Varilla treaty by the United States
Senate. according TO Minister Narilla's Panama
correspondents, and the statement that he is
coming for the purpose Of arranging peace terms
with the delegates from the new republic, or
with a view TO influencing the administration
IN Washington is pronounced the merest sub
terfuge-
II is pointed out that General Reyes attempted
10 treat directly with the government Of Pan
ANA, and that his overtures were summary re-
jec5e6. and his mission. so far as the new repuo-
lie is concerned. was an absolute failure In
view OF this fact Minister Varila is unable to
understand why General Reyes should now at
tempt to treat with him. an official subordinate
70 and carrying out the policies OF the junta
which he unsuccessfully approached. While the
Minister from Panama viii unQuestionably re-
ceive General Reyes and those accompanying
him TO Washington should request for con-
ference be submitted. he fails to see its object
and regards it as a puerile disguise for the real
purposes Of the mission.
MISSION DOOMED TO FAILURE.
General Reyes's visit is believed by those
friendly TO the treaty to have for its object the
creation OF antagonism TO the convention and
the strengthening Of what little opposition IL
has in the United States Senate. Thoroughly
familiar with Colombian diplomacy and the Pc
culiar methods successfully employed in the Co
loulbian Senate to defeat the Hey-Herran treaty,
General Reyes and his associates doubtless see
no reason why similar conditions may not OBJ
tain in the United States Senate, and members
OF the Senate prove equally as vulnerable TO al
Turing propositions as their Southern neighbors.
This typical Colombian view Of the United
states Senate finds credence nowhere outside Of
the rapidly disintegrating republic, where Ques-
tiona bic diplomatic methods bear striking re-
semblance to ''Florentine diplomacy" and their
Introduction into the United States is fully as
remote as the possibility Of failure ratify the
Panama treaty.
General Reyes plans 10 convert individual Sen
ators 10 his point of view, but the character of
the missionary work which it is understood he
VIII undertake viii hardly appeal to the mem
bers Of the upper House. In view Of the fact
that the Senate last session by considerably
more than a two-thirds vote ratified the Hay
Herran convention, and that the terms Of the
Hay-Earilla convention even more advan-
tageous to this government, it is inconceivable
that sufficient opposition 20 defeat IL can be de-
velOped. The Republicans of that body are
soldly IN favor Of ratification and, as indi-
Gated by Senator Bacon IN recent interview,
the Democratic Senators intend to support IT.
Taking al this into consideration, it is extreme
ly improbable that General Reyes and his as
sociates viii be able TO influence many, or, in
deed. any Democratic Senators TO vote against
the ratification Of the treaty. Senator Morgan
will oppose the convention. but not from any
influence Reyes can bring to bear, and the Sen
ator from Alabama viii probably stand alone
IN his opposition. Minister Vanilla and all in
terested in the building Of the canal are con-
WINGED that the mission Of General Reyes is
doomed TO failure. for the reason that the ad-
ministration has successfully negotiated an ad-
rirable treaty and they are confident that the
Senate viii place on that action the stamp Of
legislative approval