The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-11

Returned by State Department,
Which Refuses to Reopen Pan
anna Canal Question.
REFERENCE TO SENATE
OF Correspondence Not Touched
On-Date Of the Generals
Departure Not Fixed.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.-Secretary Hay
yesterday sent another communication 10
Gen. Rafael Reyes, the Colombian envoy,
in response to his protest against the ac-
ton of the United States regarding affairs
on the Isthmus of Panama. While State
Department officials decline to make any
specific statement as TO its nature, IL is
understood that in a general way it follows
the lines laid down in the reply to General
Reyes's first note. which practically de-
clined to reopen the Panama question.
General Reyes's second note differed in
some important respects from that first
sent by him to the State Department. The
first contained a general statement of the
grievances, important and minor, which
Colombia asserts she has suffered as a re-
suit of the Interpretation placed by the
United States on the treaty of 1876. This
note also, while not specifically making a
protest, by its very nature involved the
presentation of one later. The second COM
munication, to which an answer was re-
turned yesterday, dealt with considerable
detail on certain specific points regarded
as highly important and meriting special
consideration. and presented an emphatic
formal protest against the action of the
CHlltQ states IN Panama matters. StCTe-
tary Hays answer, it is said. follows the
lines Of the recent message of President
Roosevelt TO Congress on the Panama ques-
ton, juStifying the steps taken by the
United States on the subject.
The secretarys reply does not discuss
with Gen. Reyes one matter which he
urged in his second note, namely, the trans
mission TO the Senate or the correspondence
which has passed between himself and the
State Department 1t IS known that the
officials of the State Department resented
fhn erRrer ffV. Of i'm
proper, and for this reason it's answer does
not discuss this requet The matter of
sending the correspondence with Gen. Reyes
to the Senate has not yet been determined
by the President. The sending of the note
TO Gen. Reyes yesterday prevented his con-
templated trip to Baltimore for trea tment
by a specialist for which he had made ar
rangements the day before. Gen. Reyes s
last note also contained some reference TO
the submission of disputed points to arbi-
tration, but State Department officials say
there Is nothing in the present situation for
The Hague tribunal, If any reference to that
court was intended.
Gen. Reyes is ready to leave the city at
any time for Colombia, where ms PERSONAL
and political interests require his atten-
ton. 1t was saio tonight that ne might
leave this country within the next ten days,
but information obtainable from
Gen. Reyes on that subject tonight, as he
declined to see newspaper reporters on the
plea that he was very busy.
From the standpoint of the State Depart
ment, there Is no reason why he should
hasten his departure, as he might very well
remain and render considerable service to
his country. The suggestion was made to-
night that possibly he might remain and
make an effort to open diplomatic relations
with the Republic of Panama through its
representative here. for the adjustment of
such questions the assumDtion of Pana-
ma of a portion OF the exterior debt of CO.
lombia. The suggestion also has been made,
| although not officially, of reunion OF the
| two governments under the name of the
Republic of Colombia, Panama to have an
| autonomous government, with absolute au-
| thrifty TO deal with all questions relating to
| the control OF canal matters.