The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-11
WAR WITH COLOMBIA.

WAR WITH COLOMBIA.
1t is the opinion of Senator Morgan,
expressed on the floor of the Senate on
Wednesday, that the United States are
practically at war with Colombia. Their
attitude towards each other is at least
hostile, and if Gen. Reyes fails in his
mission in Washington there will. in
all probability, be actual war between
them. There is no question that Gen,
Reyes will fail in his mission. 1t is
| true the Senate may refuse to ratify
the treaty that has been negotiated
with the Republic of Panama, but that
is not at all probable. The President
has announced that it is the policy of
the government to protect the new
republic. This policy is written in the
! treaty, and will be carried out pending
! the action of the Senate on that docu-
ment.
OF course Colombia knows that she
| can accomplish nothing by send
ing troops to Panama. She will not
have to fight the Republic of Panama,
| because that newly established state
has no army worth mentioning. She
will have to fight the United States.
But the indications are that that fact
will not deter her from making an
effort to re-establish her authority in
Panama.
The President understands the gravi-
ty of the situation and has given or
ders to the navy to prevent Colombian
~, the
object being to prevent a conflict. 1t
seems that it is the purpose of Co.
lombia to reach Panama by land
route. To accomplish this purpose will
be difficult, but not impossible. 1t
will take time to cut a road over the
mountains, but if Colombia is as much
in earnest as she seems to be she will
find a way to reach the frontier of
Panama.
When the revolution was declared in
Panama and the United States under
took to protect the newly created re-
public, the President thought it would
be an easy matter to prevent Colom-
bia from landing troops in Panama,
and therefore he had no hesitation in
agreeing to defend the new republic
against any attacks Colombia might
make upon her. If he had known that
the United States would have to fight
Colombia it is probable that he would
MT have been so prompt in making an
agreement of that kind.
OF course it is not yet certain that
Colombia will go to the length of en-
gaging in a war with the United States,
but it looks as if she would. Our gov
eminent thinks it probable she will, and
hence the army is getting ready for
war. Gen. Young, chief Of staff, is
quoted as saying that his plans are
all perfected. but that he doesn't think
that more than one or two regiments
would be needed on the isthmus if act
ual war should occur.
But it will be regrettable if the
United States should have to send
little army to the isthmus and engage
in war with Colombia. Complica-
lions might rise that would bring to
the assistance of Colombia other South
American states. Indeed some of the
nations of Europe might be drawn in
to the trouble.
AS the situation now presents itself
Colombia will have to cease her efforts
to recover possession of Panama and
be content to let the situation remain
as it is. There is a bare possibility, of
course, that the Senate will not ratify
the treaty with the Republic of Pana-
ma There may be many senators who
view the whole matter pretty much
as Senator Morgan does, though the
probability is the treaty will be rati-
fled for the reason that public senti-
ment seems to be in the direction of
accepting canal concessions from the
Republic of Panama, and of going
ahead with the work of building the
canal. There Is no feeling of hostility
to Colombia, but there does seem to
be a sentiment to the effect that she
shall not be permitted TO obstruct the
construction of the canal, even If force
be necessary to compel her to stand
aside.