Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-07-28

Misunderstanding of Trouble Between
Italy and Colombia.

lIdly duQ
There is considerable misapprehen- |
sion concerning the exact point of I
difference between Italy and Colombia |
growing out Of President Cleveland's |
award on the claims of Sig. Cerruti |
for losses to his property IN the de-
partment of Cauca in 1885. It is |
not true, as generally believed, that |
the Italian war vessels are now at
Carthagena for the purpose of re-
curing the payment Of Colombia of
the f60,000 awarded Italy for the use
Of Cerruti. Colombia has never pro-
tested against this portion of the
award and has paid the installments,
the money now being in the Italian
treasury.
1t will be remembered that Cerruti
was a member of the partnership Of E.
Cerruti & Co., and that as Mr. Cleve-
land found that Colombia had de-
stroyed his means for liquidating the
debts of that firm, and as he might
be held personally liable for them,
j and as the chief purpose of the
award was to place him in the en-
joyment and protection Of the met
sum" already referred to, his decision
went further. It adjudged to Co
lombia all of Cerruti's legal and
equitable rights in all Of his property
, of every description in the depart
ment of Cauca which had been called
in question in the proceedings, and
required that Colombia on it's part
should guarantee and protect Cerruti
against all liability on account of
the partnership 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 ne could make.
It is this provision which Italy
now seeks to enforce. The counsel
for the Colombian government in a
recent interview insists that this
article concerning the partnership
debts is invalid. Messrs. Coudert
Bros, who represented Signor Ger
made a statement showing that it was
competent for Mr.. Cleveland under
the protocol to make just the kind Of
an award that he did make. They
say It would be impossible to deny
that under the express language of
this protocol the arbitrator had power
to determine which of the claims of
Cerruti were proper ones for inter
national adjudication and to declare
the amount Of indemnity Cerruti was
entitled to receive by that method of
settlement. Accordingly Mr.. Cleve-
land determined that the damages to
Cerruti individually and as a member
Of the firm were the subject of in
ternational adjudication and that
they amounted to tine net sum of
100000" By the further determi-
nation concerning the method Of pro-
tecting him in the enjoyment of
this amount, by requiring Colombia
to guarantee him against, all liabilities
8 and debts Of the firm, Mr.. Cleveland
desired to make clear and precise the
adjudication in Cerruti's favor Of the
met sum" which he was to receive.
The provision regarding the part
nership debts was necessary to the
determination of the amount of in
= ueHulCy WHICH CeTTulI Was 10 Do
paid Circumstances, it is asserted,
have shown that It was wise provi-
sion. The partnership creditors have
tried to seize upon this net sum now
in the possession Of Italy; Colombia
{ has taken no steps to protect Ger
ruti against their claims and the for
, mer government has been harassed
, by their opportunities.
II The protocol authorized Mr.. Cleve-
: land ''to do and perform and cause to
| be done or performed, all things, with
out any Limitation whatsoever, which
/ in his judgment might be conducive
to attaining in a fair and equitable
manner the ends and purposes which
, the protocol was intended to secure. y
Under this power it is claimed Mr..
Cleveland was justified in securing to
Cerruti the enjoyment of the met
sum" awarded him and in imposing
upon Colombia the payment Of the
firms debts when by its own acts
it had taken away from Cerruti the
means of discharging them.