The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-01-19
Feature Is Secretary Hays Polite
Refusal to Refer Panama
Dispute to The Hague.
CASE STRICTLY POLITICAL.
United States. 1t Is Asserted. Are
in No Way Responsible for Re
volt, but Have Rights of
Their Own To Maintain.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL

REPU BLIC SPECrAr.
Washington. Jan. 1S.-The feature of the
| correspondence between General Reyes
Colomhia's special envoy and the Govern
ment of the United States. which was
| transmitted TO the Senate to-day. IS the
request by Reyes for the reference of the
matters about which he complained to the
| arbitration tribunal Of The Hague and
| Secretary Hays carefully worded refusal.
General Reysss formal protest contains
| little that was not publicly asserted by
| him at various times prior to his departure
from Washington. The events about the
time of the Panama revolution are re-
viewed in detail The presence Of large
American naval force at isthmian ports at
the critical moment. according to the Co
lomb!an point of view. is taken to indicate
that the United States were deliberately
aiding the rebels.
General Reyes cites the thIrty-fffth ar
ticle of the treaty Of 1915. providing that
when either country feels Itself Offended
II shall lay before the other a statement
of such injury or damages. and concludes:
FOR ARBITRATION.
Since the aforesaid treaty is the law
which governs between the two countries
1 propose that the claims which make in
the present note on account of the viola
tou OF the aforesaid treaty. and all other
claims which may hereafter be made in
connection with the events Of Panama he
submitted 10 the arbitration tribunal OF
The Hague.
Secretary Hay answered this note under
date of January ). He says the Govern
ment has carefully considered the grave
complaints made. and assures General
Reyes of our most friendly sentiments for
the Government; and people Of Colombia.
The questions submitted. he says. can
be considered only in the light of accom-
plished facts. of which one is that the
Republic of Panama has become a mem
her of the family of nations.
By reas'n of the action of the Govern
merit az Bogota in repudiating the Hay
Herran convention. and of the views and
Intentions disclosed in connection with
that repudiation. the Government was
confronted, when the revolution at Pan
anna took place. with the alternative of
either abandoning the chief benefit which
II expected and was entitled to derive
from the treaty OF 1876. or Of resOrting to
measures. the necessity Of which it could
contemplate only with regret
BY the declaration of Independence %
the Republic OF Panama a new situation
Was crCa'cl. on the one hand stood the
Government of Colombia. invoking in the
name Of the treaty OF lsi6 the aid of this
Government in its efforts to suppress the
revolution. on the other hand stood the
Republic Of Panama. that had come into
being in order that the great design Of that
treaty might not be forever frustrated.
but might be fulfilled.
WORLD INTERESTED.
The isthmus was threatened with DESC
iation by another civil war Nor were the
rights and interests Of the United States
alone at stake. The interests OF the whole
civilized world were involved
The Republic Of Panama stood for
these interests. the Colombian Government
opposed them.
Compelled to choose between these two
alternatives. the Government Of the United
states, in no wise responsible for the sit
uation that had arisen. did not hesitate.
II recognized The INDEPENDENCE of the Re
public Of Panama. and upon its Judgment
and action in the emergency the Powers
of the world have set the seal Of their ap-
prevail"
Under all the circumstances. says the
Secretary, the department IS unable to
regard the complaints Of Colombia against
this Government as having any valid foun-
dation.
OFFERS GOOD OFFICES.
Entertaining these feelings" Secretary
Hay says. the Government of the United
States would gladly exercise its good Off
ces with the Republic Of Panama with a
view to bringing about some arrangement
on a fair and equitable basis.
For the acceptance Of your proposal
Of a resort to The Hague tribunal this
Government perCeives no occasion In
deed. the questions presented in your
statement Of grievances are of no political
nature. such as nations even of the most
advanced ideas as TO International arbi-
tration have not proposed TO deal with by
that process
Under date Of January 6 General Reyes
submits another note to Secretary Hay in
which he says he transmitted Secretary
Hays answer to his statement OF griev-
anceS to his Government by cable The
SeCretary's note 10 construed as an init
nation that the Colombian forces will be
attacked by the United States on their
entering territory Of Panama. to Subduc
the rebellion, and for that reason it would
hold the Government of the United States
for all damages caused TO IT, by the loss
of that national territory.
Replying to this on January Q Secretary
Hay SAYS.
Il will not for n moment accept the i'm
putation of unfriendly motives or senti-
mcnts on the part of this country toward
Colombia. Even II Colombia should per
ast in assuming hostile attitude toward
US. it will only be after the most careful
deliDer@tion. and with extreme reluctance
that this Government wculr shape its
courS" in accordance with the deplorabla
conditions thus Crt.iicd -