Semi=weekly graphic., 1898-07-23
CLAIMS or ITALY
 AGAINST COLOMBIA,
There Is Considerable Misapprehension Concerning the Exact Point of
 Difference About the Claim.

Washington, July 22. There is con. siderable misappreh snsion concerning the exact point q difference between Italy and Colombia, growing out of President Cleveland's award on the claims of Signor Cerruti for losses to his property in the department of Cauca in 1sS5. It is not true as generally believed that the Italian war vessels are now at Carthagenia for the purpose of requir- ing the payment by Colombia of the eco, ,00o awarded Italy 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 member of the partnership of D. Cerruti 65 Co, and that as Mr. Cleye- land found that Colombia had destroyed his means for liquidating the debts of that firm, and as 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 tho met sum already referred to, his de- cision went further and adjudged to Colombla all of Cerrutis legal and equitable rights in all of his property of every description in the department of Cauca, which had been called in ques- ton in the proceedings, and required that Colombia on its part should guar antee and protect Oerruti against all liz ability on account of the partnership i 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 make. It is this provision which Italy now seeks to enforce.
 The counsel for the Colombian gov ernment in recent interview insists that this article concerning the partner shipis invalid Messrs Coudert Brothers, who represented signor Cerruti in the arbitration proceedings, have made a statement showing that 1t was compe- potent 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 eE= press language of this protocol the arbi- trator had power to determine which of the claims of Cerruti were proper onea for international adjudication and to dc. clare the amount of indemnity Cerrati was entitled to receive by that method of settlement Accordingly MT, Gleve. land determined that the damage to Cerruti individually and as a member of the firm were the subject of interna- tional adjudication and that they amounted to ''the net sum of eco, ,000 sterling. By the further determina- tion concerning the method of pro- tecting him ill 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- tion in Cerruti's favor of the "net sum which he was to 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 it was wise pro. vision. The partnership creditors have tried to 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 importuni %iac