Show r TRAFFIC ACROSS ISTHMUS I Colombia Assures U S of Her Abil ity to Keep It Open Washington Aug 1DThe Colombian Colom-bian Minister Dr Silva had a conference confer-ence today with Secretary Hay I was the first l uersonal exchange between the Secretary and the representative of Colombia since the present disturbance lArea Dr 1 Silva gave JMr Hay information in-formation to the effect that trdlllc on the Isthmus was entirely unobstructed aid also assured him of the ability of Colombia to keep I the traffic open So far as the United States Government Govern-ment Is concerned there has been no purpose to exert any military force in keeping open Isthmian traffic unless it became perfectly plain that Colombia I Colom-bia was unable to dQ so This view was doubtless made known to Dr Silva although the nature of the exchange ex-change Is known In the most general way waThe The movement of our warships southward has been merely a precautionary precau-tionary measure to look after American Ameri-can Interests in caoe of an actual obstruction ob-struction of traffic and that the situation situa-tion as It exists does not dall for an exercise of any American authority on the isthmus |