Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-16
PRESIDENT n REYES
colombia's Executive to Be
Inaugurated in August.
HIS PROBABLE POLICY
TO sTRAIGHTFN OUT THE FINAN-
CIAL SITUATION.
Hope for His Country if This Can Be
Done-Fear Of Clerical
Influence.

Written for The Evening Star.
Events are shaping in Colombia which
promise to settle the future of that coun-
try 1t seemed a very uncertain future
after the separation of Panama. There
are still doubtful features, but they are
clearing away.
Advices from Bogota are necessarily be-
lated. Some private information which
comes from the coast both on the Carib-
bean and on the Pacific side Is little
fresher. 1t serves to confirm the belated
news from the capital.
Gen. Rafael Reyes expects to be inaugu-
rated president of Colombia early In Au-
gust. A majority of the electoral college
has declared him the choice. and the only
thing now for him and his friends is to see
that this declaration is made effective. The
outgoing administration of President Mar
roquin is with Reyes. Marroquin has wa
vered.
When Gen. Reyes was sent to Washing
ton In the hope of effecting a change In
the policy of the United States and secur-
ing the restoration of Panama he was the
choice OF the government party for presi-
dent. OF course, his mission failed. There
upon the Marroquin influence seemed to be
thrown for old Joaquin Velez, the reac-
tionary governor of the department of Boil
var who had done SO much to defeat the
canal. 1t was even announced that Velez
had a majority, secured through the sup
port of the administration. But Mario
quin shifted around to Reyes, and the re-
suit again was in doubt.
Knows the Colombians Well.
Gen. Reyes knows the Colombians pretty
well. Some of their weaknesses. as he
frankly says, are his own, for he Is of
them. He knew that if he went back to
Bogota after his failure in Washington
there would be no show whatever for his
becoming president. So he remained In New
York while and then sailed for Paris.
Meanwhile he was doing what he could
for Colombia to save something out Of the
wreck OF Its control in Panama He did
not succeed because the blunders in Bogo-
ia made it impossible for any one to sue
coed. But all the time he was in the minds
of the Colombians, and all the time, more
over they were getting more reconciled to
the loss of Panama At least they were
seeing the futiltyi of their effort to secure
foreign support. Gen Reyes remained in
Paris for several months. Then he sailed
Well Received in Venezuela.
Before he left Paris Gen. Reyes knew
that he would be well received In Vene-
zuela- There would be banquets and inter-
change Of views. and doubtless some hard
talk about the United. States and the ne
cessty of Latin America combining against
the Yankee. s~trt
All this happened Gen. REYES. while in
Caracas. gave utteranee to some interest
ing opinions which were supposed to be
directed chiefly against the United States.
AS reported they were in substance that
the countries of Latin America in order to
save themselves from sdismembermen such
as Colombia had suffered by the separa-
ton of Panama, shoAld put an end to civil
war, and in this way check the progress
of the Yankee doctrine. His advice was
for general union of the Latin American
q met fha l.
of the Yankees and the Europeans
The American friends of General Reyes
did not feel at all hurt by his declara atoms.
They knew that after the Panama cpl
sode and before coming to Washington he
had sent kilograms or messages of a SINH
lar character to Venezuela and elsewhere
But those messages were not held against
him. They were not exactly diplomatic
but they could be overlooked in his trying
position.
Moreover, the Latin American union
which ne suggested was not the Outgrowth
of Panama, nor was it really conceived
in hostility TO the United States General
Reyes had long been an advocate Of the
doctrine that the Latin race still has mis-
sion. When the Pan-American conference
met in Mexico he made an address on that
subject. An Interpretation was put upon
it hostile to the United States. but the
delegates from this country to that con-
ference saw nothing in the sentiments to
which exception could be taken They
believed also that the Latin race has its
mission and were anxious to see that mis-
sion fulfilled along the lines advocated by
General Reyes. These were to put a stop
to their internal wars and their wars with
one another. This seems to have been
the ground taken by him In Venezuela and
If back of it was the suggestion of gen
eral South American union against the
United States, that need worry no one
Good Results From His Visit.
Good results undoubtedly came from
General ReyeS' visit to Venezue1a CaparaI
Castro opened some of the customs ports
on the Colombian frontier that had been
closed and gave encouragement to the re-
establishment of commerce between the
two countries. This was much more
sensible means of promoting peaceful re-
lations than any general declarations of
friendship.
Probably the better understanding Sc
cured with Venezuela helped General Reyes
after his return to Columbia. 1t is clear
that the Marroquin administration felt
little more free in handling domestic sub
jects. The real question to determine was
whether Reyes could be peaceably inaugu-
rated.
Once inaugurated as president General
Reyes undoubtedly will maintain his con-
troll of the army. His prestige as a SOL
der will help him In that regard In the
campaign against the revolutionsts in 1895
he showed he possessed the qualities OF mill
itary leadership That was one of the revo-
lutions which lasted only short time and
this was due to the vigor with which Reyes
in command of the government troops
fought It, The same qualities that he had
shown in exploring the rivers of the in
terror of South America were demonstrated
in this short campaign. He could take the
initiative he was tireless, prompt and fear
less So once safely inaugurated as presI-
dent and in control the danger of the OBJ
position raising a military revolt will be
passed. t
Policy Cannot Be Guessed.
What General Reyes policy as president
will be cannot be guessed with certainty
and 1t will not do to make too hopeful pre-
dicdons Yet he,ds the one hope of Co
lombia maintaining what is left of it's ter
ritorial integrity. The rumors which have
been afioat from time to time of a separs-
ton movement In the great Pacific depart
ment of Cauca have not been groundless
The truth Is understood to be that the
danger of this department cutting loose in
case REYES were not made president has
been the motive for bringing the admin
istration of President Marroquin to his
support The department Of the Cauca
wants railroads and a chance for develop
ment. If VeIez should be successful there
would be no chance for it.
If a warm expression of friendship for
the United States Is expected from the
Reyes administration, the expectation will
be disaupointed The readjustment of CO.