The Portland daily press., 1898-07-14
Italian Government Will Collect
Claim By Force.
AWARD OF QUARTER OF MILLION
MADE BY MIR. CLEVELAND.
Friendly Representation by the United
states Only Thing That Can Save Little
Republic from Having Her Principal
Fort Seized in Few Hours,

Republic from Having Her Principal
I Fort Seized in Few Hours.
Washington, July 13.-The state depart
ment has been notified that the italian
government has determined to adopt force
IN securing the payment by the republic
| OF Colombia of the arbitration award
made by President Cleveland in favor
of Ernesto Curreti, an italian citizen,
amounting to $250.000. The italian gov
erninent has closed diplomatic negoti.
ations with the Colombia minist er at
Rome and has notified Admiral Can
diani TO proceed with the Italian squad
ron to Cartagena, Colombia, and there
adopt foroible means to collect the
amount. The Italian squadron consisting
OF warships, left La Guayra on Monday for
CarJagena, in order to seize the Custom
house there. The squadron will arrive
at Cartagena tomorrow.
In view of the serious possibilities in.
VOWED In the case, the United States gov
ernment has sought to avert an immedi-
ate crisis. On the request of the Colom-
bian authorities that the good offices of
the United States be exercised. word was
sent to our charge d'affaires at Rome to
make inquiry into the status of the case,
There appears to be no disposition on the
part OF our government to interfere in
such steps as Italy may take for the exc
cutlon OF the award as we are pre- cluded
from contesting an award made by this
government. But it is hoped that Italy
may be disposed to grant time to the
south American republic to permit her
to pay the award without suffering the
indignity of o seizure of her chief port.
AS ltaly's purpose is confined to The
collection Of the award and has no terri
torial purposes in view, it is said that the
Monroe Doctrine has no application to
the case, but that it is governed by ths
rules which applied to che British seizure
OF Corinto when the British squadron oc-
cupied the custom house until claim
OF $500 was settled. The Cerruti case
grows out of the political agitation in
Colombia in 1885. Cerruti was at the
head OF large company doing business
in the state of Cuca, Colombia. During
the rebellious period, Cerruti was impris-
oned by one of the political factions his
personal property taken from him and
his business interests wiped ont The
case was first submitted to Spain for ar
bitration, but the award was not consid-
cred satisfactory and final Later the
Italian government and that of Colombia
..4feed to submit the question to the
PRESIDENT of the United States. Presi-
dent Cleveland, after lengthy considera-
tion of the subject, rendered his award
ON March 2, 1897 President CleveIand's
award was as follows:
- award 10000 pounds sterling, Of
which sum 10000 having been already
paid the government of the Republic of
Colombia will in addition. pay to the
government Of Italy, for suse of Senior
Corruti, 10000 pounds sterling, therefore
within 60 days Of the date hereof, and
the remaining 40. 900 pounds within nine
months of the date hereof, with interest
from date at the rate of 6 per cent per
annum, until paid, both payments to be
made by draft payable in London. Eng,
with exchange from Bogota at the time
of payment.
Colombia declined to pay the award on
the ground that the Presidents decision
was lacking in fnality and left several
questions open to doubt. 1t was finally
arranged that both governments should
make Inquiries as to the meaning of Ger
tain features Of the award. The injuries
We're submitted to this government, but
tnls led to no reopenjnc of the case, as
the authorities here evidently regarded
resident Cleyeland's finding as final.
mus the matter has stood until now
Italy has determined to abandon diplo-
macy and leave it with her admiral to
collect the amount.
Cartagena is city of 25, 600 inhabitants
on the Atlantic coast OF Colombia. 1t
has large commerce. Colombia has no
navy, its only marine force being three
small revenue cutters. 1t is expected
that unless the seizure is deferred, though
the friendly representations OF the Ameri-
can charge at Rome, Admiral Canidani's
squadron will take possession of Carta-
gena's custom house within the next few
hours.