The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-19
Both Sides of the Panama Con-
trOYersy Made Public.
Request of Gen. Reyes Has Been
Complied With.
PLEADED NECESSITY.
Secretary Hays Reply to Col
ombia's Repeated Complaints.
Was That the Situation Admit
ted of No Other Course.

Washington, Jan 19.-President RoOse-
welt has transmitted to the senate ad-
ditionaI correspondence touching the
relations of the United States with
Colombia and Panama, covering the
period from December %, 1908. to Janu-
airy last
A statement of grievances on the part
of Colombia was presented to the state
department by General Reyes on De-
cember %. General Reyes says that
the course of the United States had
worked deep injury to Colombia. and
he cited the treaty of 1916 as showing
that the independence and sovereignty
of Colombia was to be maintained in
tact between the two governments.
General Reyes said with reference to
the Hay-Herran treaty that the same
course was followed in Bogota as was
pursued in Washington. If the treaty,
ne said. had been rejected in Wash
angton the disaDproval would have in
volved no grievance for Colombia. and
that the Colombian congress in its dis
approval of the treaty simply exer-
cised vested right. This action, he
maintained, did not disqualify the
Colombian government for the conclu-
sion Of another treaty.
In speaking of the action of the
Colombian congress in its efforts to
amend the treaty. General Reyes says:
1 firmly believe that it would have
approved the convention with amend
ments that would probably have been
acceptable to the United States had
not the American minister at Bogota
repeatedly declared in the most positive
manner that his government would re-
Ject any amendment that might be
offered
AS to the recognition of the republic
OF Panama, General Reyes says it is
matter of public knowledge that the
lnolner country commands sufficient
forces to subdue a revolution. Cen
eral Reyes continues:
Before the coup de main which pro-
claimed the independence of the 18th
mus TOOK place at Panama there were
in this very city agents of the authors
OF that coup in conference with high
personages clothed with official charae-
ter, as it asserted by reputable Ameri-
can newspapers. 1 have received in
formation to the effect that a bank in
New York opened a considerable credit
IN their favor with a knowledge of the
general use for which it was intended
ana even though unaware that it was
TO be applied, in part to the bribery
of large part of the garrison at Pan
anna"
Before the news was divulged that a
revolution was about to break out on
the Isthmus, General Reyes says.
American cruisers which reached their
destination precisely on the eve of the
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. A
United States military officer he says
stopped the railway from carrying to
Panama, as it was under obligations to
do, battalion of troops from Bogota.
which had just arrived at Colon, at
the very time when it's arrival in that
city would have impeded or suppressed
any revolutionary attempt
General Reyes says that Panama has
become independent because the gov
eminent of the United States desired
It; because with its Incompatible SUI
perior force the United States prevent
ed the landing of Colombian troops
because even before the Separatist
movement was known in Bogota the
United States had it's war vessels al
the entrance Of Colombian ports pre-
venting the departure of Colombian
battaliOns; because, without regard Il
the precedent established by Statesmen
who have dealt with this matter, the
United States has not respected on
rights in that strip of land which Col
Ombia considers as q divine bequest fol
the innocent use of the American fam
fly of states, and finally, because the
government of the United States in
voking and putting into practice tn,
right of might has taken from us b,
bloodless conquest, but by conquest
nevertheless the most important par
of the national territory"
General Reyes cites the 5th article O.
the treaty of 1896 providing that whe1
either country feels it is offended i
shall lay before the other a Statemen
of such injury or dana ges and con
cludes by proposing that the claim.
which he makes on account of the VIC
lation of the aforesaid treaty and al
other claims which may hereafter b,
made in connection with the events o
Panama be submitted to the arbitra
tionaI tribunal of The Hague.
Secretary Hay answered this not
under date of January 5. He said tn,
government has carefully considered
1af
General Reyes of our friendly senti
ments for the government and peopl
of Colombia. The question submitted
he says, can be considered only in tn
light of accomplished fact, of whic
one is that the republic of Panam
has become member of the family o
nations. 1.-The department has rea
with surprise" Mr.. Hay comments
your repetition of gross imputatiou
upon the conduct and motives of thi
government which are said to have az
peared in reputable American newspa
pers."
Mr.. Hay reviews in detail, first tn
necessity of a waterway connecting tn
two oceans and, secondly, all the les
islative and diplomatic procedure whic
has taken place to secure that end.
Secretary Hay says the United State
has faithfully borne during the lon
period since the treaty of 1916 was CON
pleted the full burden of it's respons
bility. Meanwhile" he continues. 9Th
great design of the treaty of 1916 re
NAMED unfulflled, and in the end
became apparent, as has heretofol
been shown that it could be FUTILE
only by the construction of canal b
the government of the United State
BY reason of the action of the govern
ment at Bogota in repudiating the Hay
Herran convention and of the view
aud intentions disclosed in connectic
with that reputation the governmel
was confronted, when the revolution
Panama took place. with the altern.
tive of either abandoning the chi
benefit which it expects and which it
entitled to derive from the treaty
1876 or Of resorting to measures the ne