Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-04
EXCHANGE OF NOTES
Gen. Reyes Informed as to
This Country's Attitude.
INVASION OF ISTHMUS
OF PENDING TREATY
WITH PANAMA.
Secretary Hay Expresses the Senti-
ment of the Administration Re
garding Attack en- New Republic.

Accompanying President Roosevelts
message were copies OF notes exchanged
between Gen. Reyes Ind the Secretary OF
State concerning the attitude of the
United States in case Colombian troops
should he sent to Panama. also copies OF
two notes to the State Department by
the minister of PANAMA to the United
States.
The communication of Gen. Reyes is adj
dressed to Secretary Hay and dated De-
cember al Washington, and reads:
Il have the honor to address your
excelIency for the purpose of stating
respectfully that 1 have received from
my government instructions to inquire
what attitude would be assumed by the
government of the United States in the
event which may take place of Colombian
troops or forces under the Colombian flag
making their appearance on the isthmus
or attempting a landing on the territory
for the defense of the sovereignty and
integrity OF Colombia. and respecting the
railroad line and tie terminal points, in
accordance with the stipulation of the
treaty of 1886 which my country is ever
ready to observe.
Secretary Hays First Statement.
In reply to this Secretary Hay wrote Gen.
Reyes, under date of December II, saying,
after quoting the question asked: Il have
quoted your question textually and in ref
erence to it / am instructed by the Presi-
dent to bring to the attention of your eX-
cellency the following facts: That the
Republic of Panama proclaimed it's indie
pendence on the I'd of last month: that, In
consequence of this movement, the indie
pendence of Panama has been recognize
by this government and by many others;
that treaty has been signed between the
United States and Panama which has been
ratified by the latter state and is no"
waiting ratification by the American Sen
ate; that by the provisions OF the SAID
treaty the United States agrees to mann
tain the independence of the Republic OF.
Panama: that although the treaty has not
yet become law by the action OF the Senate
there are already inchoate rights and duties
created by 1t which place the responsibility
of preserving peace and order on the lsth-
mus in the hands Of the government of the
United States and of Panama, even II such
responsibilities were not imposed by the
historical events of the last fifty years.
I'm view of these facts am instructed to
say to your excelency TINT the government
Of the United States would regard with
the gravest concern any invasion OF ire
territory of Panama by Colombian troops,
would inevitably result throughout the
whole extent of the isthmus, and for the
broader reason that, in the opinion of the
President, the time has come, in the inter-
est of universal commerce and civilization,
to close the chapter of sangu.nary and
ruinous civil war in Panama"
Secretary Hay Replies.
Secretary Hay, on December 80, acknow-
lodged a letter from General Reyes, which
had asked him to say whether the invasion
of the territory of the republic of Panama
by Colombian soldiers would be considered
by the United States as a declaration OF
war.
The Secretary called attention to a similar
question which General Reyes had pro-
pounded December 8 and his reply thereto.
Continuing the Secretary repeated a por-'
ton of his letter of the 18th expressing
the opinion of the President concerning
civil war in Panama. The Secretary closed
with the statement that he could only re-
iterate what he had before said the
subject at Gen. Reyes inquiry and add
that the time which had elapsed since De-
cember IL had only tended to deepen the
painful impression which would be created
in this country by the armed invasion of
Panama territory by Colombian troops and
the sense of the responsibility which would
thereby be imposed on the government of
the United States. He said he had been
instructed to inform Gen. Reyes that this
government has only the friendliest inten-
lions toward Colombia and will not lightly
be provoked into assuming a hostile att-
tude toward that republic.