Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-01-21
WILL HOLD US RESPONSIBLE
FOR PANAMA DAMAGES.
REYES SUGGESTS HAGUE
PRESIDENT Roosevelt Transmits to
Senate Additional Correspondence
Between General Reyes and Secre-
tary Hay Giving Latest Details Of
Situation at lsthmus.

ROOSeVelL trans nllteu 10 the SENATE
] Yesterday the additional correspond
ence on the relations of the United
States with Colombia and Panama,
covering the period OF December -.
1908, to January 6, last
A statement of the grievances on
the part Of Colombia was presented
10 the state department by General
Reyes December %. General Reyes
says that the course of the United
States has worked deep injury to Co
lombia and he cited the treaty of
1916 as showing that the independ-
ence and sovereignty of Colombia
was to be maintained intact between
the two governments, General Reyes
deals infinitely with the various
phases of the questions at issue, and
in discussing the rejection OF the
Hay-Herran treaty by Colombia he
expresses the conviction that the
treaty would have been approved
with amendments that would prob
ably have been acceptable to the
United States had not the American
clared in the most positive mann n
that his government would reject any
amendments that might be offered.
Summing up General Reyes says that
Panama has become independent be
cause the United States desired it, be-
cause with its incomparably superior
force the United States prev ented the
landing of Colombian troops; because
even before the separstists move
ments were known in Bogota The
United States had its war vessels at
the entrance of the Colombian ports
preventing the departure of the Co
lombian battalions; because without
regard to precedent established by
the statesmen who have dealt with
this matter, the United States has
not respected our rights in that strip
of land which Colombia considers rs
a divine beluest For the innocent use
of the American family OF the states,
and finally because the government of
the United States, invoking and put
ting into practice the right of might,
has taken from E5 by a bloodless con
quest, but by conquest, nevertheless,
most important part of the national
territory
He then appeals to the sentiments
of Justice aninfsting the United States
to act with wisdom in this clsis, and
concludes with the suggestion that
the matter be submitted to The Hague
tribunal.
Secretary Hay replied under date
OF January 3. The questions submit
ted, he says, can be considered only
in the light of the accomplished facts
of which one is that the republic OF
Panama has become a member of the
family of nations. He expresses his
surprise at the imputations upon the
conduct of this government.
He says that the United States had
faithfully borne. during the period
since the treaty of 1876 was complet-
ed the full burden of its responsible
tiles. Meanwhile" he continues.
the great design of the treaty Of
1876 remained unfulfiled, and in the
end it became apparent as has here
tofore been shown, that it could be
fulfilled only by the construction Of a
canal by the government of the Unit
ed States. BY reason of the action Of
the government at Bogota in repudi-
ating the Hay-Herran convention and
Of the views and int itions disclosed
in connection with that reputation
the government was confronted, when
the revolution at Panama took place.
with the alter1E.t, g of either aban.
doning the chief benefit which il ex.
pected and was entitled to derive
from the treaty OF 1876 or of resortine
to measures, the necessity Of which
it could contemplate only with re
gret.
by the declaration OF independence
OF the republic of Panama, new stu.
alton was created. On one hand stood
the governmental Colombia invoking in
the name of the treaty Of 1876 the aid OF
This government in its efforts to sur.
press a revolution: on the other hand
stood the republic of Panama that haj
come into being in order that the great
design Of the treaty might not be for
ever frustrated but might be fulfilled
The isthmus was threatened with desc
4dttO1A ~ hItNAitt IANA4 wal ANOl w z
the rights and interests OF the United
States alone at stake The interests
of the whole civilized world were ir
yolved The republic Of Panama
stood for these interests: the Colon
bian government opposed them Com
PEELED to choose between these two
alternatives, the government of the
United States, in no wise responsible
for the situation that had arisen, did
not hesitate. II recognized the inde
pendence OF TIE republic Of Panama
and upon fits Judgment and action in
the emergency the powers OF the world
have set the seal of their approval"
Secretary Hay denies the validity OF
Colomhia's complaints against the
Tnitai States. He says that the
TniteI States in common with the