The Washington times., 1904-10-01
REYES TELLS OF
COLONBA'S ERROR
Blunderedin PauamlCdnaI
Negotiations.
REPORT ON HIS MISSION
Practical Yindicati0n Of the American
Course in the Canal
Zone.

Gen. Rafael Reyes. then commander
in-chief OF the Colombian army. and
now President of Colombia. sent 20 this
country on special diplomatic mission
a. do what he could To modify the ac-
ll9u OF our Government ia regard TO
Colon biau interests. has submitted 10 his
government an extended report of his
mission
The official copies which reached this
country by the last mafl contain am in
J-resring summary OF the causes THAT
compelled the failure OF his mission ana
also severe arraiEUmeuU OF the short
sishtedness that leo 10 The miSf0rtuues
which befeu Colombia after the nego-
JlaIi0us terminated
The following is a correct translation
OF The concluding pages of General
Reyes report:
Reyes Report.
The CIayton-BuIwe treaty had ia-
c-aded positive guarantee of the pro-
piletuI ship of Colombia I'm the Is-hmu=
OF Panama and also q guarantee of the.
territorial integrity of the republic o5
Central Ameria, because i'm that agree
meat both Great Britain and the United
States rtnouace forever all preteusious
oi dominion over the isJhmiau region of
America 81 While The treaty re-
nalued in force. and Great Britain r..-
Sprcteu ana complied with IL. Colombia
Lau uu reason to fear CDaL the United
states would menace her territorial i'm
.,st--Er oAt. I'D consequence oi the war
with Spain i'm lS3S WEiCu brought upon
ti-e latter GOV eminent the loss of iJs last
colonies ana gave 20 the United States
NOT only Porto Rico bud rna PhfIiuDfn.
islands. the foreign policy of the United
ss5-tles entered into "a new channel and
lmpelle llSm came 10 b5 one OF IT'S mos.
marked characteristics.
WarforrF F---.--L
The American people then decided
unanimously tEat the opening of the
interoceanic canal was a national inter
CsL and the opinion was also unanimous
mat the canal should be opened 0D-raL-
e1. ald maintained under The autl1ritr
OF the United States Government be-
cause, once constructed, III would be-
come practical extension OF It's ovyf-
territory The excavation of the canal
4au not previously interested the United
2-at1S' ana u appeared Jhat t-s comuIg-
non Ct this EEeaL uEderLa king would
hiEe 10 DEE effected without it- Co-opera-
BUT when in December 1855. Congress
was convened lu Washington HE 8ufn-
ION iu favor of tEe construction Of tle
canal by The United States Government
was general throughout the country
Di tHe Panama route nothing was said
81 nat tne people demanded was the
1e-iLiet-oA OF tle Nicaragua Canal 4
NeFerihrl5ss the idea took shape thatI
D. comparative lIE-sElga should 8e
made of tH- Panama and <icaras qua .
routes. ana 90 march. 1899 commits
sion was dispatched 90 maze Inls i'm
F-stieatlon and also 10 estimate ou Ll-
~ ~ ia 1l+ g-S- ~ lAe s9nstrueliou of The
tal-iil on territory which should bee ace
quired forever under the absolute con
uoi OF the United States and also the
cost oI operation and preservation of
che canal
y-Pauncefote Treaty.
u was precisely an the time lnat these
opinions were SET forth that there was
signed I'm Washington In February. 1900
the first Hay auucefote treaty. Bv.
which Great Britain. recoEuiziue the
rights conceded 10 her by the CLAYTON
Eulwer treaty agreed that the inter-
oceanic canal should Dee constructed Hn-
der Jle auspices ~ the Government VI
iEe A-teu States ID IS known chat the
American Senate Introduced into Jnis
treaty several amendments. which were
Ict accepted by The British govern .
I-eat. and that IN was NOT until Noy-m- .
Der li. taal lae HEaI treaty between .
l.5se son ellllelts wa- ratified. lg
~ .ieh i.- L-I-l3I-W-r treaty was
4Jl1satel ANA I-e llzI=G States was .
i"il- --l --H- .-.- d GOES -lrr the cana. .
sHdrF tl- euaEiti.u rlet ll -IrrrF a.
a 3 nations under rle Protection ana ax- .
elusive Eiafautee of Che United States .
----, Llel ruling "a. .Ea su-E Canal 4-...
aside hy the IHs-rU State.
ih- a9ies l-ol - the NlaE-al-BGlaer .
g.. ~ .-.-- -s-- --- ... Oh .
l-asr rlel.- and L-at had ## Interest .
D.. lae.- -Slucgi.H- DuEilz .H- .H. Of .
az IrsaE lue a-tsi States could l..
f.'-- territory fu f-a- g.z-"l E--.-... .-.- .