New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-19
RELATIONS WITH PANAMA
MORE CORRESPONDENCE.
Protest of General Reyes and Sec.
retary Hays Reply.

l~.-kreSlCCrf RC0<evet
transmitted to the Senate to-day additional
correspondence regarding the relations OF the
United States with Colombia ard Panama. COW
erng the period from December % 1903 TO
January G last.
statement OF grievances on the part %
Colombia presented to the State Depart
ment by General Reyes on December IS Cen
eral Reyes says that the course Of the United
States has worked deep injury TO Colombia. and
he cites the treaty Of 1916 showing that the
independence and sovereignty of Colombia We're
TO be maintained intact between the two gov
ernments With reference 10 the Hay-Herran
treaty, he said that the same course was TO-
lowed in Bogota as pursued In Washing
ton If the treaty. he asserted. had been rejected
in Washington the disapproval would have in
volved no grievance for Colombia and the Co
lombian Congress in it's disapproval OF the treaty
simply exercised vested right. This action. he
maintained, did not disqualify the Colombian
government for the conclusion Of another treaty.
In speaking of the action of the Colombian
Congress IN it's efforts to amend the treaty.
General Reyes says:
firmly believe that il would have approved
the convention with amendments that would
Prooaoiy nave been acceptable to the United
states had rot the American Minister at Bogota
repeatedly declared in the most positive manner
that his government would reject any amend
nents that might be offered
Beaupre. made public by the State Department.
heretofore. General Reyes concludes:
No one will wonder that under the pressure Of
threats so serious and Irritating. and In pres
ence of a formal notification from the party
which had the authority to serve It that
amendment would be accepted preference was
given to disapprOval.
RECOGNITION OF PANAMA
AS to the recognition Of the Republic of Pana.
ma. General Reyes says it is a matter of public
knowledge that the mother country commands
sufficient forces to subdue revolution The at
titude OF the United States. he says constitutes.
according to ancient and modern authority
international law. mot only great offence but
also formal attack upon her wealth."
| After declaring that Panama formed the most
! important part of the national wealth Of CO.
| lombia. General Reyes continues:
| II there be an eternal and imnnutable prin-
\ ciple OF right. that right Of Colombia has been
/ injured by the United States by an incredible
/ transgression OF the limits set by equity and
| justice. Before the coup de main which pro-
| claimed 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 personages clothed with official char
/ acter. as is asserted by reputable American
| effect that bank in New-York opened con-
| siderable credit in their favor. with knowledgs
| of the general use for which 1t was intended.
| even though unaware that it was 70 be ap-
piled. in part. to the bribery OF a large part Of
| the garrison at Panama.
SAYS AMERICANS AIDED REVOLUTION.
Before the news was divulged that a revolution
| was about to break out the isthmus, General
| Reyes says. American cruisers which reached
| their destination precisely on the eve of the
movement. were ploughins the waters of the At
| lantic and Pacific oceans. A United States
military officer. he says stopped the railway from
| carrying TO Panama. it under obligation
4 To 10 ba o. FrOr yhi ~
| had Just arrived at Colon. at the very time
when its arrival in that city would have i'm
| peded OF suppressed any revolutionary attempt
| General Reyes says that in leading the Co
| lombian army to restore order the isthnnus
he had the honor to address note the sub
ject to Rear Admiral Coghlan. to which he re-
| ceived reply without delay. follows:
His (Coghlan's> present orders are to prevent
| the landing OF soldiers with hostile intent with
| in the boundary OF the State Of Panama
| At this time the Colombian army consisted Of
| ten thousand men, which General Reyes declares
more than sufficient to suppress the revolution.
| IF your excellency's government had not pre-
vented the landing of the troops under my COM
mand that were to embark at Puerto Colombia"
General Reyes calls attention to the fact that
| there is no overland way to reach Panaam from
| Colombia.
The true character of the new State OF Pam
| ama." says General Reyes, lis revealed in the
fact that It came into existence by coup de-
| main effected by the winning OF troops
valorous without doubt. but who have fought
against one. assaulted no ntrenchment. capt
ured fort. contentins themselves with putting
IN prison the constituted authorities. Sad.
indeed. is the fate OF my country. condemned
at times to suffer calamities from its revo-
Iutions. and at others to witness the unexpected
attacks of a powerful but friendly State. which
for the first time breaks its honored traditions
of respect for risnt-especiaIly the right of the
weak"
The Panama revolutionists continues General
Reyes. were counselled by spectators OF sew
eral countries who had assumed the direction
OF affairs and he asserts that thousands of the
inhabitants of Panama condemned the separat-
ist movement.
CHARGES AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.
General Reyes SAYS that Panama has become
independent because the government of the
United States desired it,: because. with its in
comparaby superior force, the United States
prevented the landing OF Colombian troops; be-
cause. even before the sepa-atist movement
was known in Bogota. the United States had its
war vessels at the entrance of Colombian ports
preventing the departure of Colombian bat
taIions; because. without regard to the prec-
edent established by statesmen who have dealt
with this matter the United States has not re-
specteG our rights in that strip OF land which
Colombia considers divine bequest for the
innocent of the American family OF states;
and, finally. because the government OF the
United States, invoking and putting into prac-
tice the right of might, has taken from US by
bloodlcss conquest. but by conquest nevsrthe-