The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-19
GRAVE DIPLOMATIC SITUATION ARISES OVER OSP|NA'S NOTE Suggests Knox's Visit to Colombia May Be h.
 0ppOrtune
IS CAUSED BY CANAL
 ZONE DIFFERENCES
Note Creates Stir and More Profound Sensation Is Expected-Termi- nation of Diplomatic Rela-
 tions Probable

NdoHiilStbU. tniudIA lNs-A RldNG ulp- lomate situation between the United States and Colombia has been precipitated by the publication of a letter which Senor Pedro Nel Ospina. the Colombian min ister. has written to Acting Secretary Huntington Wilson of the state depart ment suggesting that it might be "inop- perfume for Secretary Knox to visit Co., lomhia during his projected tour of Cen tral America
 The Colombian minister, first drawing attention to the fact that the views are his own, and not those of his govern ment seriously criticises the United States for not submitting to arbitration the diff ferences with Colombia growing out of the governments acquisition of the Pan anna canal section.
 Is Personal Insult
 Inasmuch as the letter, admittedly. is the personal expression of the minister, written without having communicated with his government it was received at the state department in the nature of a personal insult to this government.
 No action has been taken and no of- hcial would comment on II tonight, put the incident is known to have stirred of- fcials of the United states to such m extent that the recall of the Colombian minister is expected as matter of course. At present, however, the United States .- disposed to wait until Senor Ospina re- ceives the instruction he has asked tor
 In diplomatic circles 1t was believed that Colombia. smarting under eight years of Intellectual attempts to secure arhitra- ton of the canal zone differences. would confirm the unofficial views Of her ar- credited representative.
 Incident Is Not Closed
 more profound sensation is looked for and it is believed that terhlnaton of diplomatic relations between Ahls country Is i. prospert n s-
 Acting Secretary Wilson sad advised senor osplna of the proi,a,le itiperary of Secretary Knox. What sesaid to have particularly aroused the Colombian min ister was a reference to the republic of Panama in the itinerary a country whose independence Colombia never has recog- nized. He makes yelled reference to ihe long delay of inc United states in an- swering notes addressed to if, seeking dr btration and charges that this govern- ment has discriminated against Colombia in failing to submit to arbitration -ha questions which have arsen in regard to the canal zone.
 The itinerary of Secretary Knox iN night makes provision for stop at Carf- agena. Colombia on March a5.
 Senor Ospina tonight was disposed "a believe that-his government would indi- cate to the United States that visit from Secretary Knox would be untmely, unless the Secretary came prepared 10 promise an early arbitration of differences. He declared that his letter summed ur the position of Colombia as conclusive.
 Ministers Letter.
 After the customary diplomatic preamble the minister's letter says:
 Speaking. therefore, in my own name and without any knowledge of the views of my government on the matter, 1 take the liberty of suggesting that there reason for believing that such a visit of his excellency, the Secretary of State. may happen 10 be considered as inoppor- tune at the present time, In view Of the fact that Colombia stili finds herself placed by the United States in an ex- ceptiona position, as the only member of the numerous family of independent ra- lions scattered over the face of the earth to which. despite it's constant demands, the United States refuses to submit 70 arbitration questions relating exclusive ly to the interpretation or puDfic treaties, and the compliance with obligations im- posed by the universally accepted prn- cipes of international law on all civ iized nations on their relations one with another, It is meet to mention here that even the ex-Presldent Of the rn,ted States. both when he occupied that posi- ton and when he returned to private life, he dealt in public with these matters, has always emphatically maintained the propriety and desirabilty of submitting to the decision of an impartial tribunal of arbitration the decision of internation- al controversies involving such questions.
 Wants Matter Settled
 'I shall appreciate 1t 1T this. my sus gestion, Is taken as born of the desire which animated me tv avoid any dc- casion of aggravating the differences which exist between the two countries and to see the hour when they may f~ settled. to which my country always has been and is now disposed.
 Nearly three months have elapsed since, in compliance with the instruc tions of my government. I reiterated (No- vember 25, to the government of the | tration of the existing controversy and I see myself obIged to say, with sur prise and modification, which you will doubtless well understand. that up to the present I have not had the honor cf re- ceiving a reply.
 "One of the several grounds of com plaint put forward, if my memory serves me we'll as I have not the document al hand by the government of the United States to the government Of England in is93-4. when in such peremptory terms it demanded the submission to arbitration of the boundary question then pending with Venezuela was. as you will welt that England had left withou. reply for considerable length of time an Important note of the state department. Let it be permitted to Colombia. in her weakness. to respectfully and csndinty express how hard 1t is for her to see her self subjected to like treatment
 Expects Sympathy
 "No one who knows the unrest which Is being felt In my country at the delay in the satisfactory disposal Of these ques- tions will fail to look sympatneticaIiy upon the efforts which fl is necessary sor me to make to obtain settlement"
 The attitude of the United States with respect to the partition of Panama s said to have been unchanged since I9l5
 aCoNTINUED oN FACE D