The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-01-15

Secretary Of States Answer % 90
lombEa's Second Noee.

Washington. January 1e.-Secre-
tary Hay sent another communities
ton to General Reyes. h Colombian
envoy. In response to his protest
against the action OF h United
States regarding affairs on the 18TH
mus Of Panama State department
officials decline to make any specific
statement in regard TO the commu-
nicatien.
Gen. Reyes second note differed in
some important aspects from that
first sent by him TO the state depart
ment. The first contained q general
statement OF the grievances, impor-
tant and minor. which Colombia as
serts she has suffered al a result OF
the Interpretation placed by b
United States on the treaty of 1s4s.
This note also. while not specifically
making a protest. by its very nature
involved the presentation OF n later
on. The second communication, to
which an answer was returned yes
terday. dealt with considerable detail
On certain specific points regarded as
highly important and meriting special
consideration. and presented an en-
phatic formal protest against the &C
ton Of the United States in Panama
matters Secretary Hays answer. IL
is said, follows the lines OF the re-
cent message Of President Roosevelt.
justifying the steps taken by the
| United States government on the sub
ject. The secretary's reply does not
discuss with Gen. Reyes n matter
which he urged in his second note.
namely. the transmission TO the Sen
ate of the correspondence which has
passed between himself and the State
department. 1t is known that the
officials of the state department re-
scented the suggestion of Gen. Reyes
as highly improper. and for this rea-
son its answer does not discuss this
request. The matter of sending the
correspondence with Gen. Reyes to
the Senate has not yet been deter
mined by the President. The send
ing, of the note to Gen. Reyes yes
terday prevented his eontemplate
trip to Baltimore for treatment by a
specialist for which he had made ar
engagements the day before. Gen.
Reyes last note also contained some
reference to the submission of dis
puted points to arbitration, but state
department officials say there is moth
ing 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
his personal and political interests
require his attention. 1t was said
tonight that he might leave this
country within the next ten days. but
no information was o~btainable from
Gen. Reyes on that subject tonight
as he declined to see newspaper re-
porters on the plea that he was very
busy. From the standpoint of the
state department, 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
tonight that possibly he might re.
main and make an effort to oper
diplomatic relations with the repub.
lie of Panama Through it's represen.
tativeS here.
Some suggestion has also beer
made, though not officially, of thu
reunion of the two governments un.
der the name of the republic of Pan.
anna, to have an autonomous govern.
ment with absolute authority to dea
with all questions relating 20 tths
control of canal matters.