New-York tribune., 1912-02-19
Minister from Colombia Writes
to State Department Secre-
tary'S Trip to His Country
Is "InOpportune."
QUICK RECALL is EXPECTED
General Pedro Mel 0spina, in
Extraordinary Personal Note,
Cites Dispute Over Pan
anna Claims as His Rea-
sons for Protest.
IFrom Tho Tribune Bureau. ]

iF rom Inc tribune bureau.
Washington, Feb. 1S.-General Pedro
Mel Ospina. minister to this country
from the United States Of Colombia,
made public this evening an extraordi-
nary communication addressed to the
Assistant Secretary of State, in which
he intimates that the United States
should settle the question of arbitrating
CoIombia's claims growing out OF the
Panama revolution before the Secretary
of State Of the United States visits
Colombia.
1t Is noteworthy, however, that the
minister prefaces his letter with the
statement that he is asking his govern
ment for instructions regarding the sug-
gested visit Of Secretary Knox, and that
he takes care to say In advance that the
own, rather than those OF hfs govern
ment
Such communication expressing the
personal views Of minister are practi-
cally without precedent in Washington.
and 1t is believed by the Department OF
State that this letter will result in the
prompt recall OF the minister by Colom-
bia. Under those circumstances the de-
partment purposes for the present to pay
no attention to the letter, I'm order that
Colombia may have an opportunity vol
unfairly to take such action as the cir
cumstances demand.
II Is remarked that, precisely as an
individual cannot sue a nation, so an
individual cannot insult a nation. and
in the case Of Colombia this govern
ment is disposed to be more than ordi-
narily lenient.
General Ospina's Letter in Full.
The text of the communication for
warded to-day to the Assistant Secretary
IF State, Huntington Wilson, and stimuli
taneously given to the press, is as fol-
lows:
Legacion de la Republica de Colombia.
Washington, D. D; C.; :, ,o,,
My dear Mr.. Wilson: l hasten to ae-
knowledge the receipt OF your esteem Il
favor of the 18th inst, which was left at
the residence of the secretary OF this Legs-
tion In the afternoon OF the lith ana re-
passed the entire day In the Offices Of the
legation. and when he found this iette'
u was already too late to cause IL 10 Da
delivered 70 me the same night. 80
In the letter referred 10 you are kind
enough to inform me that his excelien,y
the Secretary Of State may perhaps decloo
TO exteEd his trip south i'm such manner
as TO include I'm IL a visit to my country.
BY the mail leaving tomorrow | shall al,
wise my government of this matter and
ask for instructions.
Speaking, therefore, in my own name.
and without any knowledge of the vieSs
of my government on the matter take
the liberty of suggesting that there Is per-
haps reason for believing that such Visit
OF his excellency the Secretary of state
nay happen to be considered as inoppor-
tune at the present time, I'm View Of the
fact that Colombia still finds herself placed
by the United States In an exceptional DO
sition. as the, only member OF the numer-
Gus family OF independent nations scat
tered over the face of the earth TO which;
despite its constant demands, the United
States refuses TO submit to arbitration
questions referring exclusively TO the inter-
probation of public treaties and the com
pliance with obligations imposed ny the
Universally accepted principles OF interns .ts..
relations one with another. II Is meet 10
mention here that even the ex-Presldent
of the United states, Mr.. Roosevelt, potn
when he occupied that position and when,
nuhIic with these matters, has always en-
phatically maintained the propriety and De-
an imnartIal tribunal OF arbitration the
controversies involving such
questions.
tion, is taken as born ot the desire " wnach aJi
gravating the differences which exist pc
tween the two countries. and to see tne
hour arrive when they may odSsn,rv US a.
,yays has been and is now disposed,
Nearly three months nave eIapseu sinss.
I'm compliance with the fnstructions o. my
I reiterated lNovemDer 20 10
fha' government of the United states tne
demand for the arbitration or the exlsts
ing controversy; and see myselt, oo,tssa .lss,,
10 say, with surprise ana mortL,csoDdi' ,.usrstaDd
which YOU will doubtless well undsrs,anu,
that up TO the present | have not hsd ths
honor OF receiving a reply, .,o,,.
one OF the several grounds or conlpIinme
-,,t forUard II my memory serves me wei,
aas have not the documents at hand, py
sha az government of the United States 70
he Government OF Great Britain IN lsso- -
when in such peremptory terms !, oeN'ah ny ,ha
boundarv question then pending with Ven
azuaIa was as you VIII Wen rei1empel,
mai England had left without reply lor =
Length tresnt OF tlme an Int n be
norn,itted TO Colombia, I'm her weakness, 20
and candidly express now nsia
n e for her to see herself SUBJECTED 10
like treatment. It ,rras, which "a
being felt in my country y, az tbsse sn questions
Ihe I,i1l faii TO look sympsthetically upon tns
VII tSii yhich n Is necessary for me 10
make to obtain that a ,sss,b,n setiIsneht De Az
riyeu on, nv dear Mr. wilson with the very
hshes' PEDRO MEL OSP1NA,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minls'eI s So,arsis
potentisry or the hepuO"0 u
10 the United States