Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-21
REPLY NOT NEEDED
Colombian Minister'S Note to
Wilson Placed in Files.
NOT REGARDED SERIOUSLY
Ospina's Criticism Of American Gov.
eminent His Personal Views.
NO DEMAND FOR HIS RECALL
Secretary Knox to Omit Visit to Co.
lombian Ports Except Upon
Invitation.

Regardless of the position taken by the
Colombian government with respect to
Secretary Knox's visit to Central America
and northern South America, the United
states government will not ask for the
recall of Senior Ospina, the Colombian
minister at Washington, on account OF
the criticisms of the United States gov
ernment contained in his personal letter
to Acting Secretary Wilson. The alleged
diplomatic Offense of the Colombian min
lister In making a public attack on the
administration will not be taken seriously
by the President or Secretary Knox, and
will be officially ignored. The minister s.
personal letter to Acting Secretary Will
son calls for no reply. in the opinion OF
those directly interested, and has been
placed in the files.
The decision to ignore the Ospina Incl
dent is understood to be the result of the
consideration by the President and his
cabinet of all the correspondence in the
case, including kilograms from Secretary
Knox at Palm Beach 1t was Ofnc1ally
declared today that the recall of Minister
Ospina will not be asked for by this gov
ernment. That decision. however, does not
preclude such action by the Colombian
government on it's own initiative in the
unlocked for contingency of its reputation
of the minister's published criticisms OF
the United States government for failing
to agree to submit the Panama matter
to The Hague tribunal
Admittedly Personal Views.
Senior Ospinas communication to the
State Department. admittedly his personal
view, it was said by some diplomats, un-
doubtedly would be confirmed by the CO.
lombian government That is assumed
from the fact that Senor Ospina is a po-
litical leader in the republic. 1t was he
who nominated and practically placed in
office the President of Colombia He is
known among the Latin American colony
here as man of great personal influence
in Colombia, and for that reason. it was
pointed out today. Senior Ospina felt that
he could speak without instructions from
the government.
Another official statement made at the
State Department is that Secretary Knox
will not visit Cartagena, as proposed. or
any other Colombian port, on his coming
trip, unless he receives special invita-
tion to do so from the Colombian govern
ment. Coupled with that declaration was
an expression OF opinion by Acting Secre-
tary Wilson that such an invitation is not
expected.
sr.t Knox Changes Plans.
A change has been made in the plans
for the departure Of Secretary Knox,
"A4t iiOts ~ - SAoNCoB oiASSS tAiS
approved itinerary Of subsequent move
ments. Owing to the difficulty of en-
barking on the cruiser Washington. at
Palm Beach. as was originally planned
for tomorrow, the Secretary and party
have decided to join the cruiser at Key
West and make the start from that city
Friday morning. The change of plans
was communicated to the Washington by
wireless while on her way along the
southeastern coast on her way to Palm
Beach.
Suppressed at Bogots.
BOGOTA. Colombia, February 21.-The
action Of Gen. Pedro mel Ospina, Colon
bian minister to the United States, in
notifying the State Department at Wash
ington that the visit to Colombia of Sec
retary of State Knox would be inoppor-
tune owing to the fact that Colombias s
claim in connection with Panama had not
yet been arbitrated, has not become
known to the general public.
The Colombian government has the
matter under consideration, but either
the newspapers are ignorant of the oc-
currence or else comment has been sup
pressed by the authorities.
A strong sentiment for an honorable
settlement of the Panama affair has
been gaining ground all over the country,
without regard to the differences of views
of the political parties.
Matter Before the Senate.
The complaint of the minister from
Colombia against the United States
which has been given wide publicity in
connection with the proposed visit of
Secretary Knox to Colombia, was
brought up in the Senate this afternoon
by Senator Hitchcock, democrat, of
Nebraska.
He asked the Senate to adopt a reso-
luton calling upon the Senate COM
/ mittee on foreign relations for the
facts relating to the claim of the re-
public of Colombia against the United
States arising out of the formation and
recognition of the republic of Panama,
| and the cession of the Panama canal
strip to the United States" The re-
port is also to include letters between
Colombia and the United States re-
garding the arbitration of the dispute
Senator Lodge Of Massachusetts. a
member of the Senate committee on
foreign relations. objected to the pres
ent consideration of the resolution on
| the ground that it was executive busi-
ness. When Vice President Sherman
held the resolution in order, Senator
Lodge requested that 1t be referred to
the committee without being acted
| upon by the Senate, and that course
| was adopted.