Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-09
Peace Negotiations With Co
lombia Ended.
HIS MISSION FAILS
UNDECIDED IN REGARD TO H1S
FUTURE MOVEMENTS.
Notifies the Botoga Government Thai
He Has Been Able to Save Moth
ing From the Wreck.

Peace negotiations between the United
States and Colombia have terminated. Gen.
Rafael Reyes, who came to Washington as
the special envoy of Colombia in the hope
of arranging a peaceful settlement between
the United States and Colombia regarding
Panama, having practically failed in his
mission. left Washington this afternoon for
Baltimore, and he does not expect to return
to the national capital unless he receives an
intimation from the State Department that
there is yet hope of doing something IN
Colombia's behalf that may avert COM
plete rupture between the two countries.
Gen. Reyes is far from well, and his
urinary object in going to Baltimore is to
be treated by a specialist He has not yet
decided whether he will sail from New
York by the next steamer for COLOMBIA
sailing Saturday, January 10, or Wnetner
he will go to Paris on private business.
Notifies Home Government.
In a. long cablegram which Gen. Reyes
has disp atched to Gen. Marroquin OF CO.
lombia he has reviewed the negotiations at
Washington and informed the Bogota gov
ernment that after doing everything in ms
power to save something from the wreck
he has failed. Gen. Reyes has not supple
mented this announcement with a word Of
advice as to the course his. government
should pursue. Naturally he expects, In
view of the high feeling prevailing In Co
lombia, that it will be very difficult to re-
strain the people longer,
brought to bear all the pressure In hls
power to avert a rupture between the
Washington and Bogota governments, ana
he Ia grauf1ed that his people have Kept
act while there was hope of effecting set
tlement by diplomacy. Diplomacy having
failed. Gen. Reyes does not feel that 1t is
his mission to further advise the Bosota
government as to its course.
His Recent Request.
Up to a late hour this afternoon General
Reyes last note to the State Department,
requesting as favor that this presentation
Of the Colombia case be forwarded to the
Senate, had not been answered 1t would
cause regret to General Reyes to know that
this request which he felt it to be his plain
duty to make, should not have been taken
kindly by the State Department He had
no intention Of exceeding his prerogatives
as minister on special mission.
The request of Gen. Reyes was d1plo-
matically worded and stated his reasons
for asking this favor of the Washington
government. In substance they were that
in view of the fact that treaty was
under consideration by the American
Senate hostile to the interests of his
country, the Bogota government earnestly
desired that It's side of the case should be
presented, that the Senate might have all
the information bearing on the subject and
might know Colombia's reasons for protest
ing before the treaty Is finally passed
upon. Gen. Reyes thinks that in this way
the Senate will be better able to reach
fair decision in the matter.
In leaving Gen. Reyes feels grateful for
the personal courtesies which have been
shown him during his stay in this country.
Might Refer Matter to Bowen.
He can suggest no means by which Co.
lombia and Panama can settle their differ
ences without resort to arms He thinks 1t
possible that the dispatch Of q special en-
voy to Bogota from this government might
result satisfactorily, and he suggested, In
formally today that Minister Bowen. at
Caracas, who speaks Spanish fuently and
whose influence in South America has been
Increased by his work for Venezuela might
be able to bring about solution OF the CO.
lombia-Panams problem If he were sent to
Bogota at this time.
It was learned today that Gen. Reyes has
seen q number of administration senators
during his stay here, among them Senator
Lodge, Senator Spooner and Senator Elklns.
He does not expect to leave his letters OF
recall at this time. SO that his mission 10
not officially terminated.