The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-14
COLOMBIA m TROUBLE.

The Italian Government Has Sent War
nhips 10 q Port of tho South American
RspubIls to Seize Custom House fuI
tho Collection offs Claim. GOod 0filcsi
Of This conntry Asked to Avert Crlsi.
WASHINGTON, D. C.. July 1s.-The
state department has been. notified that
the Italian government has determined
to adopt force in securing the payment
By the republic of Colombia of the ar
bItration award made by President
Cleveland in favor of Ernesto Gerru-
ii, an Italian citizen, amounting to $780,
900. To this end the italian government
has summarlly closed diplomatic nego-
tIatIons With the Colombian minister al
Rome, and has notified Admiral Can
dlanl to proceed with the italian squad
ron TO Cartagena, Colomia, and there
adopt forclble means to collect the
amount. A dispatch from Caracas, Ven
ezuela, announces that the Italian
squadron under Admiral Candianl. left
In Guayra on Monday for Cartagen1 In
order to seize the custom house there.
The information reaching the state de-
partment is to the effect that the Ital-
Ian squadron will arrive at Cartagena
on the 18th. tomorrow, and that 1t con-
sIsts OF four warshlps.
In view OF the serious possibilities In
volved in the case, the United States
government has sought to avert an I'M
mediate crisis, On request Of the Col
Omblan authorities that the good Of
fees Of the United States be exercised,
word was sent to our charge d'affalres
at Rome to make inquiry Into the stat
US OF the case. There appears to be no
disposition on the part OF our govern
ment to Interfere In such steps as Italy
may take for the execution OF the
award, as we are precluded from con-
testing an award made by this govern
ment. At the same time It is hoped that
Italy may be disposed to grant suiIi-
Client time to the American republic to
permit her TO pay the award without
suffering the IndIgnltY OF seizure OF
her chief commercial port. As itaiy'B
purpose Is confined to the collection OF
the award and has no territorial pur-
poses in view, II is said that the Nom
roe doctrine has no application TO the
case, but that Il is governed bE the
rules which applied to the British selz-
ure of Corlnto, when the British squad
ron occupied the custom house until a
claim of $4,000 was settled.
The Cerruu case grows out OF the
political agitation in Colombia in 1885,
At that time Ceruti was at the head Of
a large company doing business in the
state of Cauca, Colombia. During the
rebeIllous period, Cerrutl was lmprison-
ed by one OF tho political factions, his
personal property taken from him and
his business Interests wiped out. The
case was Rrst submitted TO Spain for
arbitration, but the award was not
considered satisfactory and final Later
the Italian government and that OF
Colombia agreed by protocol on Febru-
nry 10, 1895, to submit the entire ques-
ton TO the President Of the United
States. President Cleveland accepted
the duty and after a lengthy considerA-
tlun OF the subject, rendered his award
on March Q. 1897, two days before the
expiration OF his last term.
Colombia declined TO pay the amount
OF the award on the ground that the
Presidents decision was lacking In
ilnnlItg and left several questions open
to doubt. II was finally arranged that
both governments should make inquiry
ms to the meaning OF certain features OF
the award. The INQUIRIES were submit
ted to this government, but II led to no
re.openlng OF the case, as the authorlt-
les here evidently regarded President
Clevclnnd's finding as 0nal. Thus the
matter has stood until now Italy has
determined TO abandon diplomacy md
leave Il to the admiral OF her squadron
10 collect the amount by occupying the
custom house Of CartnRenRs