The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1904-08-06

Washington, d. c., Aug. G.-In Off
cial circles here news from Bogota
is awaited with keen interest as pri-
yate information received lately in
dicates that the affairs of that repub-
lie may reach a critical Stage within
the ext few days.
Tomorrow is the date set for the
Inauguration of General Rafael Reyes
as president of Colombia. Affairs are
in such shape, however, hat the new
president may not be allowed to take
Office without grave trouble ensuing.
When General Reyes was sen to
a change in the policy of the United
States and securing the restoration
of Panama he was the choice of the
government party for president. OF
course his mission failed. Thereupon
the influence of President Marroquin
and his administration seemed to be
thrown for Joaquin Velez. the aged
revolutionary governor of the depart
ment of Bolivar, who had lone so
announced that Velez had a majority
secured through the support of the
administration. But Marroquin shift
ed around to REYES, n 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 whatev-
er for his becoming president. So he
remained in New York awhile, and
then sailed for Paris. Meanwhile he
was doing what he could for Colon
bia to save something out of the
wreck of it's control in Panama. He
did not succeed because the blunders
in Bogota made it impossible.
General Reyes remained in Paris
for several months. Then he sailed,
for Colombia, but for Venezuela.
The strained relations of Colombia
and Venezuela for the last few years
been we'll understood. That the
countries didn't go to war was
because each had on hand revolutions
home, and each accused the other
of fomenting those 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 that he would be well received
in Venezuela. While in Caracas he
gave utterance to some interesting
opinions which were supposed to be
directed chiefly against the United
States. His advice was for a general
union of the Latin-American races To
guard against the aggression both
of the Yankees and the Europeans.
The Latin-American union which he
suggested was q the outgrowth OF
Panama nor was it really conceived
in hostility to the United States. Gen.
Reyes had long been an advocate of
the doctrine that the Latin race still
had a mission.
Good results undoubtedly came
from General Reyes visit 10 Venezue
la. General Castro opened some OF
the customs ports on the Colombian
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 Venezue-
la helped General Reyes after his re-
turn to Colombia. II is clear that the
Marroquin administration felt a lit
tie more free in handling domestic
subjects. The real question to be de-
termined was whether Reyes could
be peaceably inaugurated even after
a majority of the electoral college
had declared him the choice During
the last few weeks every mail has
brought word of intrigue and plots
against Reyes. Army commanders
and others supposed TO he hostile to
General Reyes have been removed,
but this has served. APPARENTLY. to on
ly increase the opposition.