New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-14
FORCING COLOMBIA TO PAY.
ror-R ITALIAN WARsHIPs SAIL FOR
CARTAGENA.
ADMIRAL cANp1An ORDERED 10 SEIZE THE Gus

Ia
TOM HOUSE, AND SECURE THE cERRUT1
AWARD MADE RI PRESIDENT CLEVELAND.
va.hInkton. July 13.-The State Department
IA. been informed tina; the italian Government
has determined TO adopt force in securing the
,ovrnent by the Republic Of COLOMBIA or the
award made by President Cleveland, as aT0itra-
e., In favor oS ErnestO Cerruti. an Italian citl-
can amounting 10 S25o00o. The italian Gov
eminent has summary closed diplomatic rego-
cations with the Colombian Minister at Rome.
and has ordered Admiral Candiani TO proceed
IL, the Italian SQUADRON 10 Cartagena. Colon
~. and adopt forCible means 20 collect the
.,nount. A dispatch from Caracas. Venezuela,
announces that the Italian squadron under Adj
r,ral Cardiani left La Guayra on Monday for
cortasena in order to seize the custom house
,bare The information reaching the State De
,srtmen: IS that the Italian squadron will arrive
=, Car.acona tomorrow. and that II consists Of
four warships
II view Of the serious possibilities involved in
tba case the United States has sought TO avert
IN immediate crisis At the request Of the Co
,orbian authorities that the good offices Of the
Tinted states be exercised, word was sent the
American charge d'alfaires ct Rome 10 inquire
into the status Of the case. There appears TO
Ia no disposition on the part Of the Government
% interfere with such steps as Italy may take
Cor the execution Of the award, as II is pre-
Guided from contesting an award made by this
Government Al the same time II Is hoped that
Italy may be disposed 10 grant sufficient time
20 the South American republic to permit her 70
nay the award without suffering the indignity
y, q .eizure Of her chief commercial port. AS
Italy's purpose IS confined to the collection OF
tbe award. and has no territorial object in view
No.. Wv has
cation 10 the case but that it is governed by the
rules which applied to the British seizure OF
Cor,nto. when British marines occupied the GUS
tom house until claim Of $4,000 was sette1'
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
The Cerruti case grows out Of the political
agitation IN Colombia IN 1SS5 Cerrutl was at
the head Of large company doing business III
the State Of Cauca. Colombia. In the rebellion
Cerrut was imprisoned by one OF the poll'lcd'
factions. his personal property was taken from
him and his business interests were wiped out
The case was first submitted to Spain for arni-
tra,ion but the award was not considered satls-
factory and final Later the Italian Government
and that of Colombia agreed by protocol! on rem
ruarv & 1855 to submit the question TO the
President Of the United States President CleVe-
land accepted the duty, and after long con-
sideration of the subject rendered his AWARD Oh
March ., 1897, two days before the expiration or
his last term. After disallowing the claims lor
personal damages resulting from arrest and I'M
prisonment. President Cleveiand's award for
loss Of individual property was as follows
award $4,000 % which sum $1,000 having
pubIic Of Colombia Will. IN addition; pay TO the
Government 0. Italy for he use OF Sgn9r Er1es,O
the date hereof and the remaining 1900 WIN
IN 9 from T9 9t at # the rate Of per- cent
until paid both o paYne15S TO with exchange from
Bogota at the time Of payment
Colombia declined 10 pay the amount OF the
award on the ground that the Presidents de-
c,sion was not final. and lef, several questions
open 10 doubt. II was at last arranged mat
both Governments should make inquiries as
70 the meaning OF certain features OF the award
The INQUIRIES were submitted 20 this Govern
ment but the case was not reopened as the
authorities here evidently regarded President
Cjeveland's finding as fna Thus the matter
has stood until now Italy has determined 10
abandon diplomacy and let the Admiral Of her
SQUADRON collect the amount by occupying the
Custom House Of Cartagena-
Baron Fava. the italian Ambassador. said
tonight that he had no direct information az
10 the movement OF the Italian feet or It's pun
poses He declined TO discuss the case. except
10 say that it had been finally adjudicated by
the arbitration Of Presiden, Cleveland. and the
Italian Government desired a settlement on the
basis Of the Presidents decision
Cartarena is a city OF twenty-five thousand
inhabitants or the north Atlantic coast OK
Colombia almost due south OF Santiago de
Cuba where the American feet Is nov s'a-
toned 1t has a larg. commerce. most OF the
imports and exports OF Colombia passing
through there. Colombia has no navy us oh'y
marine force being three small revenue cutters
They would be Insignificant against the -FOUR
warships Of Italy. II is expected. therefore,
the, unless the seizure is deferred through ue
friendly but In no way imperative representa-
tons Of the American Cherge at rome
Admiral Canianis squadron VIII TAKE possS'
go ~ CartageDa.s Custom House within the
next few hours.
SCHOOL or FORESTRY MUST WAIT.