Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-08-06
GOOD WORK DONE
IN VENEZUELA
Course OF Events Which Led
Ambassador to Washington
to the Head OF the
Government.

WASHINGTON, D. G., Aug. 6.--In
official circles here authentic news
from Bogota is awaited with keen in
terest as private Information received
lately indicates that the affairs Of
that republic may reach q critical
stage within the next few days.
Tomorrow is the date set for the
Inauguration Of General Reyes as
president of Colombia. Affairs are in
such shape, however, that the new
president may not be allowed to take
office without grave trobule.
When General Reyes was sent to
Washington in the hope of effecting
a change in the policy of the United
States and securing the restoration Of
Panama he was the choice Of the gov
ernment party for president. or
course his mission failed. There
upon the influence of President Mar
roquin and his administration seem
ed to be thrown for Joaquin Velez,
the aged revolutionary governor Of
the department of Bolivar, who had
done SO much to defeat the canal.
It was even announced that Velez had
majority secured through the sup
port of the administration. But Mar
roquin shifted around to Reyes, and
the result was again in doubt
General Reyes knew that If he went
back to Bogota after his failure here
there would be no show whatever for
his becoming president. So he re-
manned in New York awhile. 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.
General Reyes remained in Paris
for several months. Then he sailed,
not for Colombia, but for Venezuela.
The strained relations Of Colombia
and Venezuela for the last few years
have been well understood. That the
two countries didn't 60 to war was
because each had on hand revolutions
at home and each accused the other
OF fomenting these domestic brawls.
General Castro, the president Of Ven.
ezuela, was credited with the deter,
mination to annex some Colombian
territory under the pretext Of war,
and at the same time settle old
scores.
Before he left Paris General Reyes
knew he wonld be well received in
Venezuela. While In Caracas he gave
uttefance TO some interesting opinions
which were supposed to be directed
chiefly against the United States
His advices was for a general union
Of the Latin.Amercian races to guard
against the aggression both Of the
Yankees and the Europeans. The
Latin-American union which he sug
gested was not the outgrowth OF Pan
anna 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 mission.
Good results undoubtedly came
from General Reyes visit to vene
zuela. General Castro opened some
Of the customs ports on the Colon
bian frontier that had been closed and
gave encouragement TO the re.estab
lishment Of commerce between the
two countries. Probably the better
understanding secured with yenezu
ella helped General Reyes after his
return to Colombia. II Is clear that
the Marroquln administration felt d
little more free In handling domestic
subjects. The reai question to be de
termined was whether Reyes could be
peaeeably inaugnrated even after q
majority Of the electoral college had
declared him the choice. During the
last few weeks every mail has brought