Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-12-28
FROM WASHINGTON.

rc,,,,esnondence of the Alexandria Gazette.J
A lengthy and important conference
on the Panama situation was held yeslef
day between President Roosevelt and
Secretary Hay at the latIer's residence
the President stopping there on his way
from church. Mr.. Hay has been conhned
to his home for nearly three weeks with an
attack of bronchitis. At yesterdays con-
ference it is understood that he outlined
to the President tentative plan OF pfo-
ceedure with reference to Colombia's bill
of grievances. Every effort will be made
to placate that country, consistent with
the dignity of the United States and
with the policy, already irrevocably de-
termined upon, to support the independ-
enee of Panama. 1t will probably be
some time before a formal answer is sent
to General Reyes, and the answer will
likely be of such a character as to call
for further exchanges, thus indefinitely
prolonging the stay of the Colombian en-
WOW in the United States. In the mean
time the United States will make all
necessary preparations in case war be-
comes necessary.
II is learned from an authoritative
source today that three alternatives are
presented to the United States in the
note regarding the Panama situation
which Gen. Reyes, special envoy OF
Colombia, has submitted to the state
Department They are: Flrst-Ihat
the status existing prior to the reyo-
luton should be restored. Second
That the United States should keep hands
off while Colombia tries to lick Panama
into submission again. Third--That If
the United States will accept neither OF
the preceding propositions, she should
pay damages to Colombia for the injury
inflicted through the loss of territory,
and the amount should be fixed through
submission to the Hague Court. NO
publication Of the text of Reyes note Is
expected until it is sent to Congress In
connection with other documents bearing
ON the Panama case. 1t is lengthy
communication and is based entirely on
the Colombian Interpretation OF the
treaty of 1916 and the duties devolyed
upon the United States in connection
Herewith. The note says that failure
ON the part of the United States to heed
the protest of Colombia or to accept
either proposition submitted, will result
in the severance of diplomatic and COM
mercial relations between the two
countries.
Everything about the Capitol is quiet
and bnt few members of Congress OF either
house were there today. The Virginia
members who went home spend Christ
mas will be back in day or two.
Notwithstanding the report that Sena-
tor Reed Smoot will resign his seat to
prevent further attacks on the Mormon
Church it is stated here that the Senator
from Utah will be reinforced by two
noted western lawyers who have started
for Washington to fight the contest filed
against him.
Henry l.. Thomas, the Oldest transla-
tor of the State Department, died this
morning at his residence in this city.
He was 6S years old, and became a clerk
in the Department in 1869 he had
handled almost every important docu-
ment of an international character.
During the year just closing there
we're 10, 739 cases Of smallpox in the
United States, resulting in 6O6 deaths.
These figures show considerable de-
crease as compared with those for the
same period of 1902. To date there
have been II cases of bubonic plague,
all of them fatal, in San Francisco this
wear as against Al cases in 1902.