New-York tribune., 1912-02-20
[ From The Tribune Bureau
Washington. Februar.


Washington. February 10.
WILL NOT VISIT COLOMBIA.-There IL
extremely little likelihood that Secretary
Knox Will visit Colombia during his CEN
trail American trip. 1t would not ahucl
any circumstances. have been possible loi
The Secretary to go 10 Bogota, the capital
and the only suggestion made was that he
might find it possible to touch at Carthd-
gena In view Of the extraordinary course
of the Colombian minister that is no"'
however, a remote possibility. 1T Is not De-
leved that Colombia will approve inc
course Of its representative I'm Washington
whatever may be the feeling In that conn-
try concerning the Panama revolution. Inc
people of Colombia are above all we'll bred
They pride themselves on their esthet:c
sense, and nothing could be further from
their conception Of diplomacy or good man
ners than the discourteous reply OF General
Ospina TO the polite suggestion that Secre-
'tary Knox might include the leading port
of Colombia in his itinerary. AS was sala
i'm these dispatches last night the Depart
ment of state VIII ignore the letter OF Gen
ersl Ospina. passing II over as merely an
unfortunate display of bad breeding On the
part Of the one who should have known
bettcr. Nevertheless, IL is improbable ttlat
such a faux pas" can be so far overlooked
as 10 permit either the quasi-apologetic eN-
PLANTATION which General Ospina has ISSUED
tonight or any representations which may
be made from Bogota TO alter the Secre-
tary's determination to pass by Colombia
without stopping Certain South American
diplomats, seeking 10 extenuatc the course
of General Ospina point to the fact that III
is essentially a soldier, that be has never
had any diplomatic experience. this being
his first diplomatic mission, and that ne
has merely shown a wofu ignorance of the
proprieties. but that he undoubtedly was
not actuated by any purpose to affront the
government Of the United States, an eXpld-
nation to which the minister's statement OF
to-day lends some color or truth.
COLOMBIA'S LA FOLLETTE.-"Wi a
Sulzer in the House and g La Toilette in
the Senate, the United States should not be
too censorious of the break of General
Ospina, the Colombian Minister was the
expression with which one diplomat
summed up the situation to-day. And in
further explanation 1t was related that
General Ospina is possessed by an over
country, that lie has credtable record as
a soldier. but that he can hope for political
support only from the extreme radical ele-
ment in his country and that he doubtless
saw or believed he saw, in the suggestion
that Secretary Knox might visit his coun-
try an opportunity TO make political capital
with that element in his own country. lie
says himself, in his public statement of this
evening, that no thought OF insulting either
the United States or Secretary Knox per-
sonally ever entered his head. although he
does not explain just what led him to reply
TO what constituted a purely social note
with a demand that the United States pay
its alleged debt to Colombia, and with a
reference which can be construed as noth-
ing less than an unwarTantable appeal TO
factional political differences in the United
States. OF course, all such suggestions as
that this government will hand TO General
Ospina his passport and break on dlplo-
matte relations with Colombia are nonsense
although it is believed quite possible that
the minister would be glad II such action
we're taken as tending to enhance his popu-
larlty with the element in Colombia's po-
litical world to which he would appeal for
support for the Presidency.
HONDURAS AND NICARAGUA. - Inc
suggestion has Deen made that the purpose
Of Secretary Knox in making this visit is
to further the arrangements with Mica
raeua and Honduras which were emoodled
in the treaties with those countries sent TO
the Senate some time ago. Nothing coulo
be further from the truth. In the case OF
Nicaragua. contract for loan had al
ready been made and some funds advanced
thereon. In order that the public debt may
no refunded on more satisfactory basis
and certain public improvements provided
for. Nicaragua is extremely anxious that
the pending treaty be ratified. so thai no
influence on the part of the Secretary OF
State is needed in that country. In the
case OF Honduras, the contract made win
New York bankers has expired, ana they
have refused to renew IL. However, the
Whitney bank. of New orleans, has sent
representative to Honduras to negotiate
,,e,,, loan. and as the Honduranians are
o,so extremely anxious that this deal
sbor,d be put through, there Is no occasion
for Secretary Knox to exert any influence
,r that country. The purposes OF the sec
rotor,, of State are far broader than those
rbov are to promote the cordial relations
between the United States and the couh-