The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-12-25
COLOMBIA WAR I'D
POWERS BRING PRESSURE TO
PREVENT WAR WITH
UNITED STATES.
MUST NOT tNPtCI SYMPATHY
FUTlLlTY OF ANY ATTEMPT TO
RETAKE PANAMA is
POINTED CUT.
EN-. REYES ii0TFS fR tIIils
CAME TO WASHINGTON TO SAVE
WHAT HE COULD FROM A
SHiPWRECk.

COlOfnDla by several european powers
to prevent war between that country
and the United States. The first
step in this direction already has been
taken by several foreign powers
through their representatives here,
who have informed Gen. kafae! Reyes
of the futility Of any attempt by Co.
lombia to retake Panama. declaring
that it will result only in pTecipitating
the BOgOta government into war with
the United States, and ave said to
him that the result of such acts would
be a catastrophe Colombia herself
must realize. If this is not sufficient
the representatives of these countries
at BOgota will be instructed to inform
President Marroquin that Colombia
can expect no sympathy from the Eu-
ropean powers in any move she may
make on Panama which would inevita-
bly,
Involve Her in War
with the United States. The members
of the diplomatic corps have been in
formed by Gen. Reyes himself that he
fears he can with difficulty check his
people much longer. Gen. Reyes is
not talking for publication, but to
several European ambassadors he has
confided his fears with frankness. and
has said that he is doing everything
in his power to prevent an outbreak
before the conclusion of his mission,
but that, although his influence with
the army is considerable, ne is so far
away that it is difficult for him to
make this felt as strongly as if he
were on the ground and in command.
Diplomats whom Gen. Reyes has ap-
preached On the subject say that what
he most fears is the result Of the an
nouncement at BOgota of the failure Of
his mission. He himself realizes that
the most he can, nope from the gov
eminent Of the United States is an Of
fer that it
Will Use Moral Suasion
to prevail on Panama to assume her
portion of the Colombian dept. Fur
ther, Gen. Reyes has been told he a
expect nothing.
Il came to Washington to save what
| could from a shipwreck," he said to
a diplomat of high rank. Realization
of the true situation it is said, will
not prevent Gen. Reyes from calling
on the United States for a reference to
The Hague of several of the questions
at issue. 1t is on this point that Euro
pean diplomats have told Gen. Reyes
that it is expecting too much to ex-
pect this government to submit n
phase of the Panama matter to The
Hague. Several ambassadors have
earnestly advised the general to i'm
press on his people the fact that Eu-
rope wants the isthmian canal and
that Colombia can expect no sympathy
from that quarter.
Hoped 1t Will Calm Them.
1t is hoped that the receipt of this
news in Bogota will do much to calm
the feeling there and hold the Colom-
blans in check until Gen. Reyes can
return. Great Britain and the Neither
lands ave taken pains to let Gen.
Reyes know indirectly that Colombia
reckons without her host, if she in
terprets their delay in recognizing the
republic of Panama as an evidence Of
their sympathy for Colombia. or az
due to other than a desire to protect
the interests Of their ~financiers, who
are the largest holders of government
bonds. 1t is said here to be unlikely
that our naval commanders in 18TH
milan waters will go to the extent Of
d~islodging the Colombian troops which
nave landed on the Island of Pines.
On this point however, the policy of
the government has not been definitely
decided.
Land on Panama Territory.
Colon, Dec. %. - Information has
been received here that about 100 Co.
lombian troops have landed on the Is.
land OF Pines, northwest of Cape Tt.
burn. which is situated at the west.
ern entrance of the Gulf of Darien
The Island of Pines is in Panama ter
ritory. 1t is significant in his con-
nectlon that the United States allxil-
larry cruiser Mayiower left this har.
Dor yesterday bound in the direction
OF the Island of Pines, to obtain con
tirmation Of the report.
Denied at Panama.
Panama, Dec. 23.-There is no truth
IN the re0ort that Americans have
been given twentyfour hours to leave
the Darien' district. There are less
\ a a score of Americans in the On.
tire district and practically all of
them are located at Cana, where thew
are enga ed in mining.
Report Is Confirmed.
Washin ton, Dec. 23.-Oficial CON.
frmation has reached washington of
the landln OF the Colombian troops ON
the island OF Los Pinos, which lies
close to the coast of Panama, TIL.
troops have taken up a position on
th,s n island with the intention III
mr. 10 paths through the ~iingles