The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-12-02
COLOMBIA MAKES
CANAL PROPOSITION.
Gen. Reyes Says He Comes to This
Country to Offer
The United States all the Conces-
sions Contained in the Hay-Her-
ran Treaty Absolutely Free
Of Cost.

Washington, Nov. 2.-That the Re-
public of Colombia grant to the United
States ali the concessions provided for
in the Hay-Herran treaty, but abso-
lutely free of cost. is the opposition
which Gen. Rafael Reyes, envoy OF
Colombia to the United States on
special mission. brings for the con-
sideration of the officials of Washing
ton.
Gen. Reyes. who arrived today. talk
ed with representative OF the Asso-
ciated Press about his mission to
Washington. He said:
"You will readily admit the pro-
priety of my refra;ning from discussing
my nilsson. which is of confidential
character, but of the offers which
Colombia is ready to make desire to
say that my energies and those Of my
followers will be devoted to the grant
ing of the canal concessions to the
United States without the payment of
q cent. Even at this Colombia will be
the gainer.''
"You can say,'' continued the
General, "that all Colombia is ahre
with zeal for the building of the canal
by the United States, and that the
unfortunate political troubles which
were the sole cause Of the treaty. 8
death before the Colombian Congress
have entirely disappeared. We want
the canal, and have come to Washing
ton to see what the people Of the
United States are prepared to accept.
| come with instructions from the
President of Colombia direct.''
"What is the feeling in Colombia
about the Panama revolution?" Gen.
Reyes was asked.
'Feeling is running high and there
is Indignation over the events on the
isthmus. We can and will put down
the rebellion if not interfered with
frou the outside. So tense is the
feeling and so national the spirit OF
determination to bring the isthmus
back into the Republic that President
! Marroquin will have no trouble in rails"
! ing az army twice the size necessary te
| put down the disturbance. Such ar
army can march overland to the 18th
| mus, the opinion of i'll advised persons
| to the contrary Notwithstanding -
! "What can the United States DO,
HOW GldG a UlOaGJ iico OOOn % teoACN ~
Secretary Hay and NJ. Bunau- -Varilla"'
'That treaty has not been ratified.
The Colombian Government does NOT
ask the United Staes to aid in putting
down the revolution on the isthmus.
Ali we ask is to be allowed to conduct
our own affairs free from outside inter
ference. II the United States main
tains neutral position the revolution
will be put down.
When his attention was called to
the reports, from. Panamanians and
other sources that he had come to
Washington to conduct lobby to
defeat the ratification of the treaty, he
said very emphatically:
81 authorize the Associated Press to
say for me at the outset Of my visit
thaS my movements here shall be
strisz:y in accordance with the powers
witt which am clothed. I shall deal
witss the officials of the Washington
| Government direct. to whom | bear
letters of credence from the Bogota
Government. l am not here as pri-
vate agent and | shall ignore such re-
fectioDs upon my personal and official
character.
Gen. Reyes had, "a conference today
with Senior Walker-Martinez, the
Chilan minister. who called soon after
| tho envov arrived