Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-07-22
CLAIMS OF ITALY
 AGAINST COLOMBIA
There k considerab' Nisapprohensior Concerning the Exact Point of
 Difference About the Claim. |.

Washington, July 22. There is con- siderable misappr, l. 'nsion concerning the exact point 5f difference between Italy and Colombia, growing out of President Cleyeland's $ award on the claims of signor Cerruti for losses to his property in the department of Cauca ill 1885. l. is not true as generally believed that the Italian war vessels are now at Carthagenia for rhe purpose of requir- ing the payment by Colombia of the e60 GOO awarded Iraly for the use of Ger ] ruti. Colombia has never protested against this portion of the award and has paid the installment, the money now being i'll the Italian treasury.
 It will be remembered that Cerruti was q member of the partnership of E. Cerrufi $ Co, and that as Mir Cleve- land found that Colombia had destroyed his means for fquidating the debts of that firm, and IS he might be held per sonally liable for them, and as the chief purpose of the award was to place him i'll the enjoyment and protection of the ssnet sum already referred to, his de- eisien went further and adjudged to Colombia all of Gerrutis legal and equitable rights i'll all of his property of every description i'll the department of Cauca, which had been called in ques- ton in the proceedings, and required that Colombia on it's part should guar antee and protect Cerruti against all li- ability on account Of the parsnership debts and reimburse him so far as he might be compelled to pay any of these debts, which might be established against all proper defenses he could i make It is this provision which Italy now seeks 10 enforce.
 The counsel for the Colombian gov ernment in recent interview insists that this article concerning the partner ship is invalid Messrs Coudert Brothers, who represented Signor Cerruti in the arbitration proceedings, have made statement showing that it was compe- petent for Mir Cleveland under the pro- toeol to make just the kind of an award that he did make They say 1t would be impossible to deny that under the ex- press language of this protocol the arbi- trator had power 10 determine which of the claims of Gerruti were proper ones for international adjudication and to de- clare lhe amount of indemnity Cerruti was entitled to receive by that method of settlement. Accordingly MT. Cleve- land determined that the damage to Gerrati individually and as q member of the firm were the subject of interna- tional adjudication and that they amounted to .sthe net sum of e6O, 900 sterling By the further determina- tion concerning the method of pro- tecting him i'll the enjoyment of this amount, by requiring Colombia to guar antee him against all liabilities and debts of the firm, Mir. Cleveland desired to make clear and precise the adjudica- ton in Gerruti's favor of the met sum- which he Was 10 receive. This provision regarding the partnership debts was necessary to the determination of the amount of indemnity which Cerruti was to be paid. Circumstances, 1t is assert ed, have shown that t was wise pro- vision The partnership creditors have tried 10 seize upon this net sum now in the possession of Italy; Colombia has taken no steps to protect Cerruti against their claims and the former government has been harrassed by their important tiaS