The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-14
COLOMBIA MUST PAY
Italian WarShipS Will Seize Her
Chief Port.
ENFORCING OLD CLAIM
CLEVELAND DE-
CIDED IN FAVOR OF ITALY.
Awarded S25o,ooO to An italian
Citizen and It Has Not Been Paid
Monroe Doctrine Is Not In
volved and Our Government Will
Not Interfere-History of Case.

Caracas Venezuela, July 1S.-The
Italian squadron under Admiral Candiana
left La Guayra on Monday for Cartha-
gena, Colombia, in order to seize the GUS
tom house there for the non-execution OF
the Cerruti claim.
Washington. July 13.-The state depart
ment has been notified that the Italian
government has determined 10 adopt force
in the payment by the republic OF Colon
bia of the arbitration award made by
President Cleveland IN favor of ErneSto
Cerruti an Italian citizen, amounting to
$4,000. o this end the Italian govern
ment has summarily closed diplomatic
negotiations with the colombian minister
at Rome and has notified Admiral can
DIAM TO proceed with the Italian squad
adopt forcible means to collect the
amount. a dispatch from Caracas,
Venezuela, announces that the Italian
squadron under Admiral Candiani left La
Guayra on Monday for Carthagena in
order to seize the custom house there.
The information reaching the state de-
partment is to the effect that the Italian
squadron will arrive at Carthagena on the
18th. and that it consists of four war
ships.
In view of the serious possibilities in
volved in the case, the United States gov
eminent. has sought 10 avert an immedi-
ate crisis On the request of the Colom-
hian authorities that the good offices OF
the United States be exercised, word was
sent TO our charge q dUdlEeS ut flOIue. 10
make inquiry into the status of the case.
mere appears to be no disposition on the
part of our government 10 interfere In
such steps as Italy may take for the exc
cution of the award as we are precluded
from contesting an award made by this
government. At the same time, IL is
hoped that Italy may be disposed to grant
sufficient time to the South American re-
public TO permit her TO pay the award
without suffering the indgnity of az seiz-
ure CT her chief commercial port.
AS Italy's purpose is confined to the
collection of the award and has no terri
torial purposes in view, ii is said that
the Monroe doctrine has no application
to the case, but that it is governed by the
rules which applied TO the British seizure
of CorintO. when the British squadron oc-
cupied the custom house until claim of
SIS COO was settled.
HISTORY OF THE CASE
The Cerruti case grows out of the politi-
cal agitation in Colombia in 1855 AT that
time Cerruti was at the head of large
company doing business in the state OF
Cauca, Colombia During the rebellion
Cerruti was imprisoned by one of the
political factions. his personal property
taken from him and his business interests
wiped out. The case was first submitted
was not considered satisfactory and final
Later the Italian government and that of
Colombia agreed by protocol on February
5, 1895, to submit the entire question to
L
dent Cleveland accepted the duty and
after a lengthy consideration of the sub
iect rendered his award on March 2, 1897,
two days before the expiration of his
ast term. After disallowing the claims
for personal damages resulting from ar
rest and Imprisonment. President Cleve-
and's award for loss of individual prop
erty was as follows:
Il award f6vOJJ sterling $3.50, 050). of
which sum f1o. eco 1850, 0G0) have already
been paid. The government OF the repub-
ic of Colombia viii. in addition. pay to
HE government of Italy for the use. OF
Senior Ernesto, CerTuti, flG.000 sterling
S5t. G00) thereof within 50 days from the
late hereof and the remaining f4G, 900
500. 600 within nine months OF the date
hereof, with interest from date at the rate
# { ner cent per annum until paid. both
payments to be made by draft. payable in
london England with exchange from
3ogota at the time OF payment
Colombia declined to pay the amounts
awarded, on the ground that the present
lecision was lacking in finality and left
inally arranged that both governments
hould mako inquiry as TO the meaning of
C-tain features OF the award. The in
uiries We're submitted 10 this govern
nent but it led to no reopening of the
ase. as the authorities here evidently
egard President Cleveland's finding as
nal.
Thus the matter has stood until now
tally has determined to abandon diplo-
macy and leave ii to the admiral of her
quadron TO. collect the amount by occupy
rs the custom house OF Carthagena. The |
after is a city of 25c,G00 inhabitants on |
he north or Atlantic coast of Colombia. |
lmost due south of Santiago. where the |
american feet is now stationed. 1t has a |
arge commerce most of the imports nd |
xports of Colombia passing through |
inc force being three small revenue cut |
erS.