Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-04-30
COLOMBIA'S CASE
AGAINST US
General Rafael Reyes Gives the In
side story in AT'he Two American.

State department at washington, that
the reason for the action of the Colom-
bian Senate lin refusing to ritify the
Hay-Herran treaty. was that the con-
stitution of that country expressly pro-
hibits the cession Of sovereign rights
1t was, moreover, felt that the construc-
ton of public works on so extensive a
scale and the permanent occupation OF
Colombian territory would occasion fire.
quent collisions by the existence in Pan
anna Of two public authorities, one nation.
al and the other foreign
The subsequent action of the United
States rendered it impossible for the Col
ombian government and Senate to carry
out their repeatedly expressed desire to
modify the terms of the treaty so that
II might be made acceptable to all par
tics, the American minister having in
formed my government, in so many
words that the United States would de-
cline TO accept any modification whatso-
ever in the terms Of the treaty. This
statement was accompanied by the threat
that unless the treaty was given the
force of law, the United States Congress
would at It's following session. adopt
measures which every friend of Colombia
would regret"
| Shortly afterwards, and before the re-
volt which proclaimed the Independence
! of Panama, agents of the authors OF
the rebellion were holding conferences,
| according TO the statements of leading
American newspapers, with persons In
vested with an official character by the
! government of the United States, whilst
! 1t has been proved, beyond doubt, that
| n New York bank furnished a sum Of
$500, 600 for the carrying out of the plot.
Two days before the movement was COM
menced, the secretary of the navy de-
partment at Washington ordered Ameri-
can cruisers to the Atlantic and Pacific
sides of the isthmus to prevent the en-
try of Colombian troops into the terri
tory of Panama.
| A few days later, when my govern
ment placed me in command of a mill
itary force to re-establish order in the
isthmus, these cruisers prevented our
landing and being then unaware of the
causes of the attitude so taken up by
the United States, l directed a note to
the commanding officer, Admiral Cogh-
Ian, requesting to be informed on the
subject. The reply to that note by ADJ
mral Coghlan simply stated that his
peremptory orders were to prevent the
decentralization Of Colombian troops
with hostile intent within the limits OF
the State Of Panama.
The republic of Colombia with popu-
lation of five million inhabitants, was a,
that time devided into nine departments
Of which Panama was the least populous
while some of the others contained up
wards of a million. At that time, the
Colombian army consisted of 10000 mer
under arms n force more than sufficient
TO have suffocated the rebellion in Pan
ANA, II the government OF the United
States had not prevented the embark.
alton at Puerto Colombia of the troops
under my command; and at Buenaven'
tura in the Pacific OF others, under the
command of various general officers.
To conclude this narrative of the cir
cumstances in which Colombia de-
prived OF her sovereignty and her ter.
ritory. it Is only necessary to add that
having prevented the Colombian gov
= eminent from using the forces at its
J disposal for the suppression of the rev
= olrtion, the United States government
with unusual haste. within two days o.
the declaration Of its independence. rec
ognized the republic of Panama as
sovereign and independent State. and 1
days later entered into a treaty with
that republic guaranteeing its indepen
dence and providing for the construction
of the canal in that territory.
Even to those unaccustomed to tn
methods adopted by the nations of tn
world In the recognition of newly form
ed States, the action of the United State
= In relation to the republic of Panam,
can leave no doubt In the minds Of in
telligent persons that 1t was a wild
!, departure from conventional customs.
will not trouble the reader with a re
, cital of authorities on the subject. I
will be sufficient for my purposes t
. quote the doctrine propounded by MI
Seward. secretary of State. in 1861:
We Uhe United States government
freely admit that a nation may and eve
must recognize a new State which ha
absolutely and unquestionably effected 1t
independence and permanently establish
| ed its severe gnty; and that a recognl
ton under such circumstances does no
| OF the government of the country fror
, which that State has been separated. o
8 the other hand we insist that natio
Y which recognizes revolutionary Stat
! with the object of assisting to create 1t
a sovereignty and independence. gives lie
8 Ultimate and grave offense TO the natio
5 whose integrity has been thus invade
= and makes itself responsible for just an
h ample satisfaction. Recognizing the In
Q dependence of new State and so fay
d orfng its admission to the family of ma
. tions, is the highest possible exercis
d of sovereign power, because in ever
n case 1t affects the welfare of two cour
a tries and, frequently. the peace of tn
@ world. In the European system thi
f power is rarely exercised without pre-
y vious consultation with other nation!
d That system has not Yet been extende
!. to our continent where there is eve
s more necessity for prudence In sue
cases in dealing with American State
e than In treating with European cour
r tries"
= Nothing can be added, 1t seems t
S me, to this noble and humanitarian doc
= trine propounded by the great man whC
I unhappily, for the sake of his own cour
k try and of Colombia no longer exists
= If Colombia had not been in possessio
J. of the forces necessary to compel Par
IT anna to maintain national unity. II migf
d have been reasonable for the Unite
II States, In a friendly manner. to hav