The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-08-12
ITALY AND COLOMBIA
FORMER POWER MAY SEIZE THE LAT.
TER's PRINCIPAL PORT.

Cartegana's Custom House in Danger of
Capture Owing to an Unsettled Claim of
$3.50, 900. Over Which President Cleve-
land Was the Arbitrator.
The State Department has been no.
titled that the Italian Government has
determined to adopt force in securing
the payment by the Republic of Co
fombia of the arbitration award made
by President Cleveland in favor of Err
nesto Cerruti, an Italian citizen,
amounting to $250,000 To this end the
Italian government has summarily
closed diplomatic negotiations with the
Colombian Minister at Rome, and has
notified Admiral CandlanI to proceed
with the Italian squadron to Carriage
ma, Colombia, and there adopt forcible
means to collect the amount. The in
formation reaching the State Depart
ment is to the effect that the Italian
squadron arrived at Cartegena on the
14th, and that it consists of four war
ships.
In view Of the serious possibilities in
volved in the case. the United States
Government has sought to avert an
Immediate CRISIS. On the request Of
the Colombian authorities that the
good offices of the United States be ex-
ercfsed, word was sent to our Charge
d'Affaires at Rome to make inquiry in
to the status of the case. There ap-
pears to be no disposition on the part
of our Government to interfere in such
steps as Italy may take for the execu-
ton of the award, as we are precluded
from contesting an award made by
this Government. At the same time it
is hoped that Italy may be disposed to
grant sufficient time to the South
American Republic to permit her to
pay the award without suffering the
fndignity of a seizure of her chief COM
mercial port.
As Italy's purpose is confined to the
collection of the award, and has no ter
ritorial purposes in view, it 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 occupied the Custom House
until a claim of $4,000 was settled.
The Cerruti case grows out of the
political agitation in Colombia in 1885.
AT that time Cerruti was at the head
of large company doing business in
the State of Cauca, Colombia. During
the rebellious period Cerruti was i'm
prisoned by one of the political fac
tions, his personal property taken from
him, and his business interests wiped
out The case was first submitted to
Spain for arbitration, but the award
was not considered satisfactory. Later
the Italian Government and that of
Colombia agreed by protocol on Feb.
s, 1885, to submit the entire question to
the President of the United States.
President Cleveland accepted the duty,
and after lengthy consideration Of
the subject rendered his award on
March 2, 1897, two days before the expi-
alton of his last term. After disallow-
ing the claims for personal damages
resulting from arrest and imprison-
ment, President Cleveland's award for
loss of individual property was as fol-
lows:
81 award $4,000 rounds (sS00, O0O.) of
which sum 10000 pounds (s50.O00) hav-
fng been already paid, the Government
of the Republic of Colombia WILL in
addition, pay to the Government of
Italy, for the use of Senior ErneSto Ger
ruti 10000 pounds $3.50 000) thereof with
In sixty days from the date hereof, and
the remaining 10000 pounds, ($20o, 0o0l
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. England, with exchange
from Bogota at the time of payment.
Colombia declined to pay the amount
of the award, on the ground that the
Presidents decision was lacking in
hnality, and left several questions open
to doubt. 1t was finally arranged that
both Governments should make inqui-
ries as to the meaning of certain feat
ures of the award. The inquiries were
submitted to this Government, but il
1ed to no reopening of the case, as the
authorities here evidently regarded
President Cleveland's finding as final
Thus the matter has stood, until now
Italy has determined to abandon d.
plomacy and leave it with the Admira'
of her squadron to collect the amount
by occupying the Custom House Of
Cartegena.
Baron Fava, the Italian Ambassador,
was seen tonight, and said he had no
direct information as to the movement
of the Italian fleet or its purposes. The
Ambassador declined to discuss the
case at issue, except to say that it had
been finally adjudicated by the arbitra-
ton of President Cleveland, and the
italian Government desires a settle
ment on the basis of the Presidents
decision.
Cartagena is city Of q, 600 inhabit
ants on the north or Atlantic coast OF
Colombia, almost due south of Santa
go, where the American feet is now
stationed. 1t has large commerce,
most of the imports and exports Of Co.
lombia passing through there Colon
bia has ne navy, It's only marine force
being three small revenue cutters. They
would be insignificant against the four
warships of Italy. 1t is expected, there
fore, that unless the seizure is deferred
through the friendly but in no way I'm
perative representations or the Ameri-
can Charge at Rome Admiral Cardia-
mis- squadron will take possession of
q. C......s....