Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-05-07
ASK OR THE FACTS
SENATE CALLS ron CORRESPOND.
ENcE WITH COLOMBIA RE.
cARDIN oTHE PANAMA.
WE REFUSE ARBITRATION
United States Accused Of FomentInc
Rebellion and Has Never Settled
May ccnpIIcate Taft's ME-
sion to the lsthmus.

Washington, May 6.-The senate
adopted Tuesday a resolution which
might complicate in some manner the
object Of Secretary Taft's trip 70
Panama. The resolution is one intro
dueed by Senator Bacon calling for
correspondence since January is. 1904,
between the United States and Colon
bia, In relation to the secession Of
Panama. Prior to that time Colombia
felt aggrieved at what was interpreted
to be interference by the United States
in her troubles with the state Of
Panama, and demanded $10,O0O,00O Of
the United States, Colombia also
asked for arbitration Of this claim,
which was refused by the United
States or the ground that this country
had becn charged with fomenting reyo-
luton in Panama and abetting the
secession of the isthmian portion Of
Colombian territory. The resolution
calling for late correspondence is
based upon the belief, on the part Of
certain Democratic senators, that
Colombia has again asked for arbitra-
ton OF the claim and at the same
time has made no charges against the
United States involving the conduct
Of this government in connection with
the secession Of Panama. II
II is said that Colombia asks that or
ders issued by the United States gov-|
ernlnent to commanders Of naval yes
sells IN Caribbean waters and to conf
manders Of vessels on the west shores
Of Central America and to the com-
manders Of marine corps detachments
on the isthmus just prior to the seces.
sion Of Panama be presented as evi-
dence that the Colombian government
had been injured by the United States.
What answer has been made by the
state department to the renewed re-
quest from Colombia for arbitration Is
not known by the senators. They ex-
pect that to be brought out by the
reply Of the president to the request
for the correspondence.
Information so far obtained by the
Democratic senators leads them, to
believe that triangular treaty has
been negotiated between the United
States, Colombia and Panama, byI
which the Colombian claim is to be
scaled down and assumed by Panama,
The amount named in the treaty, It is
said, is 100000. According to the adj
vices Of the hackers Of the Bacon
Colombia Is holding out for
81 ,O0O, 900, and Panama is complaining
that 1t is unjust to compel her to pay
sither sum from the $10,000,000 which
The United States paid to Panama for
The canal zone.
The chief mission Of Secretary Taft
10 Panama, these senators believe, is
10 procure an agreement by which
this treaty might be ratified. It is
said also that 1t is hoped that an agree
nent can be reached between Panama
md Colombia whereby action by the
United States senate on the treaty
would not be necessary and which
would not call for accession to Colon
bias latest demand for arbitration.
Senator Bacon believes that II the
'acts are as stated the United States
IS honor bound to grant the arbitra.
ion demanded for the reason that this
government has taken an advanced
position on the subject Of general
arbitration. II