New-York tribune., 1909-06-20
CEN. REYES ABDICATES
rsLENCIA TO SUCCEED.
o,1o7,bia's ErecutiUe LeaOes HIS
post and Goes 10 EMrope-Hot-
o,;r to Transfer Po7Cer.

7,. 1a-Advices received here from
-. - confirm previous reports that General
80, peves President Of Colombia, mas apan-
- - his office and sailed for Europe He en-
CO. =, hoard a small fruit steamer at Santa
De-. ,oe+ Sunday, according TO the information
,,.a5 s+ Cartagena on Monday night 1t Is
vs,,a5 that the steamer is one OF the Elder
n.r,nster Line, bound direct for southampton
Tg,s cartagena advices say that the Presidents
-, IN Europe is known and approved by Gen
~ Jorge Holgl1in. the President, and the min
- and that X is General Reyess intention
- -s+Trn for the meeting Of Congress on July
on If 2 majority Of his countryrnen so desire,
= IN ease OF q disturbance Of the peace, which
:. considered remote possibility.
IRE recent trend of affairs in Colombia makes
.,e aeuarture of the President matter Of no
sunrise as # has been openly asserted that
either his voluntary resignation from Office or a
revolution appeared 70 be the only solution for
coloubia's political troubles. The support given
hv President Reyes to the United States-Pan-
ama-Colornbia treaty has been partly respon-
ble for the prevailing dissatisfaction, the treaty
hetng Objectionable 70 the general public, and IN
.he Congress election held in May the govern
rnent party suffered q signal defeat Following
this election. q committee OF the victorious Re
publicans had a conference with President
Reyes. concerning the details Of which the fol-
lowing statement IS made:
General Reyes received the committee in a
friendly spirit. inviting an exchange OF opinion
as the urgent needs of the country. He
frankly confessed that conditions were not salts
factory that there was alarming discomfort
everywhere, and that these were u,enaces 10 the
maintenance Of peace.
President Reyes announced that his deter
nnation 10 withdraw as executive head of the
government was unalterable, in proof OF which,
he added. ne would present TO the Colombian
Congress his formal resignation from Office on
'uly ~ he was ready, he said. to place him
SELF under the orders OF whatever citizen the
people should elect TO rule the destinies oF the
country.
de added that he would resume tba Io-es,-
oency only in case Of a revolution. or for g fa1,
hours 10 permit the transfer of power to Cen
ers4 Ramon Gonzales Valencia as President
Designate Both General Holguin and himself
had already urged General Valencia to accent
this Office General Reyes expressed sentiments
q respect for popular suffrage and disclaiued
Sympathy with his supporters who had dis
ooeyed his instructions and by their actions had
ignored public opinion. He withdrew as head
OF the government now so that ii would be i'm
possible TO say later than he had coerced Con-
gress, since he earnestly desired that Congress
might perform its duties freely in the correction
of possible errors during his administration
The President expressed the belief that the
maintenance Of peace and the progress OF the
country would be impracticable unless the gov
eminent was representative Of all political fac
tons. as he considered that no one faction alone
was capable OF ruling the destinies OF the repub-
lie In his opinion both General Valencia and
General Hoiguin were capable Of developing the
harmonious policy which would be productive Of
strong national government, likely TO inspire
confidence abroad. His contemplated trip
Europe taken In order 10 calm the elements
which had been disturbed by the recent electoral
struggle
is understood that General Reyes's two
cons accompany him. the other members Of his
family remaining in Bogota- Communication
with Bogota is difficult, and It is understood
thai strict censorship is being maintained
Il said q the Colombian consulate in this city
yesterday that General Reyes had not left Colombia
for political reasons. His departure, II eX-
pIsined was due to fatigue and the need of change
and rest.
IN other quarters, however, Ii was asserted that
General Reyes tired of political strife. had left
Colombia never TO return, and that he had placed
the administration OF affairs in the hands of Dr.
Holquin with that understanding.