The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1904-01-20
Senate GETS PAPERS.
President Transmits Correspon.
dence With General Reyes.

]
poses Reference of Dispute to The
Hague Tribunal-Secretary Hay De.
cInes Reference.
Washington, Jan 10. - President
Roosevelt transmitted to the senate ad-
ditional correspondence touching the
relations of the United States with
Colombia and Panama covering the
period from Dec. 23, 1903, to Jan. 8
last.
A statement of grievances on the
part of Colombia was presented to the
state department by General Reyes,
Dec. -. General Reyes says that the
course of the United States has worked
deep injury to Colombia and he cited
the treaty of 1886 as showing that the
independence and sovereignty of Col
ombia was to be maintained intact
between the two governments.
General Reyes said with reference
to the Hay-Herran treaty that the
| same course was followed in Bogota as
was pursued in Washington, that Col
ombia exercised a veto right in reject
ing the treaty and that its rejection
| did not prevent the consideration of
| another treaty. He says he believes
Colombia would have passed the treaty
with amendments acceptable to the
United States but for the declaration
OF the American minister that no
amendments would be accepted
General Reyes concludes: "No one
will wonder that under the pressure of
| threats. so serious and irritating, and
| in the presence of a formal notifica
tion from the party which had the au-
thority to serve it that no amend
ment would be accepted preference
as given to disapproval"
AS to the recognition of Panama
General Reyes says the attitude of the
United States constitutes, according
to the most ancient and modern au-
thority on international law, not only
great offense but also formal at
tack upon Colombia's wealth. He
says Colombia has sufficient force to
suppress the revolution.
Quotes American Newspapers.
General Reyes continues: Before
the coup de main which proclaimed
the independence of the isthmus took
place at Panama, there were in this
very city agents of the authors of that
coup. in conference with high person
ages clothed with official character, as
is asserted by reputable American
newspapers.
81 have received information to the
effect that a bank in New York opened
considerable credit in their favor
with a knowledge of the general use
for which it was intended, even though
unaware that it was to be applied, in
part, to the bribery of the large part
of the garrison at Panama"
Before the news was divulged that
a revolution was about to break out Oh
the isthmus, General Reyes says that
American cruisers, which reached
their destination precisely on the eve
of the movement, were plowing the
waters of the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans. A United States military Off
Ger, he says stopped the railway from
carrying to Panama a battalion of
troops from Bogota. which had just ar
rived at Colon "at the very time when
&c o1 10, hot pit Nv i'm,
peded or suppressed any revolutions
airy attempt"
General Reyes said that in leadins
the Colombian army to restore order
on the isthmus he Reyes) had the
honor to address a note to Rear Ad-
miral COghlan, to which he received
reply without delay as follows: His
(Coghlan's) present orders are to pre-.
vent the landing of soldiers with hos
tile intent within the boundary of the
state of Panama.
At this time the Colombian army
consisted of 10000 men. which General
Reyes declared to be more than sufIi-
cient to suppress the Panama revolu
tion had not the United States pre-
vented the landing of troops In this
connection he calls attention to the
fact that there is no way to reach Pan
ANA overland.
The Panama revolutionists, contin-
ues General Reyes, were counselled by
spectators of several countries who
had assumed the direction of affairs
and he asserts that thousands Of the
inhabitants of Panama condemned the
separatiSt movement.
Appeal to American Sense of Justice.
General Reyes says that Panama has
become Independent because the gov
ernment of the United States desired
1t: because with the incomparably SUI
periOr force the United States prevent
ed the landing of Colombian troops
because even before the separatist
movement was known in Bogota, the
United States had its war vessels at
the entrance of Colombian ports pre-
venting the departure of Colombian
battalions; because without regard to
tHe pTeCeutnl eSldDllSlleu Dy States
men who have dealt with this matter,
the United States has not respected
our rights in that strip of land which
Colombia considers as a divine be
quest for the innocent use of the Amer
lean family of states and finally be-
cause the government Of the United
States invoking and putting into prac
tice the right of might has taken from
us by bloodless conquest but by con.
quest nevertheless, the most import
ant part of the national territory
"In this crisis of the life of my