The Washington times., 1903-12-20
PRESIDENT TRANSMITS
LETTERS OF BEAUPRE
TO HOUSE AND SENATE

ernment intimating that # was to sat
isfy public sentiment
BY August Is Mr. Beaupre was so
firmly convinced that the treaty would
fail that he wrote:
Even the Panama representatives
have become so thoroughly imbued with
the idea of an Independent republic
that they have been more or less indif-
ferent to the fate of the treaty"
On August q Mr.. Hay informed Mr.
Beaupre that the President "is hound
by the statute commonly called the
Spooner act" explaining that under it
he was, after a reasonable time, should
the treaty with Colmobia fail, to enter
into negotiations with Nicaragua, and
concluding: Meantime. the President
will enter into no engagement restrain
ing his freedom OF action under the
statute"
On August 81 Mr.. Beaupre wrote that
Senator Ospina had announced that he
would stand by Panama, in case of re-
volt. but added that IF the Govern
ment of the United States will wait for
the next session of congress the canal
convention will be secured without a
revolution
On September II Senator Obaldia de-
clared that should the canal treaty
not pass, the department of Panama will
declare independence" Senator Ospina
declared publicly that revolution is
not far distant.
On October 81 Beaupre wrote that peo-
pie at BOgOta were lin great anxiety
because of conflicting reports of seces-
sion movements at Cauca and Panama. ="
In subsequent communications Mr.
Beaupre tells what was done after the
rejection of the treaty in the matter of
appointing a committee of the Colom-
bian congress. to whom WIS referred
the project for law authorizing the
executive 10 negotiate for the cOnstruc-
ton of a canal.
An Exciting Debate
In communication of October q. Mr.
Beaupre tells OF an exciting debate in
the Colombian senate, in which the
notes of the American minister were
read In open session, with the Object
of making ii appear that the rejection
OF the treaty was influenced by a senti-
ment of Indignation at the threatening
attitude of the American minister" The
notes of the American minister referred
TO were in relation to the oommunica-
ton of June 9. I'm which Mr.. Beaupre
was instructed TO inform the minister
of foreign affairs that the rejection Of
the treaty might compromise the friend
ly relations between the two Cemtrie5
Colombia Status Case.
Colombia outlines its policy toward
Panama and the United States in a
communication from the minister of for
eign affairs to Minister Beaupre. under
date of November II. u says:
The Immediate recognition Of the So
called government of Panama by the
Government of the United States enter
ing into relations with It, is a circum-
stance aggravated by the fact that such
recognition violates the treaty OF 1876.
which compels the government of Co
lombia 10 protest. which IL does In the
most solemn and emphatic manner. and
to consider that the friendship of this
government with the Government of the
United States has reached such a grave
point that 1t is not possible TO continue
diplomatic relations. unless the Govern
ment Of the United States states that IL
is not its intention to interfere with Co
Iombia in obtaining submission OF the
isthmus nor to recognize the rebels az
belligerents. I hope you Will submit
these points 70 your Government imme-
diately, for the army is already march
ing on the isthmus.
Under date of November 10 Minister
Beaupre cabled the Department OF
State.
The minister of foreign affairs re-
quests me TO forward the following:
AS the Government of the United
States does not definitely state that il
Will oppose the landing OF Colombian
troops. but will secure a hearing for
General Reyes, IL may be supposed its