Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-20

Secretary Plans to Visit Co.
lonbia on Central Ameri'
can Trip Despite Protest
Of Colombian Minister.

can Trip DeSplCe IIoCeo'
Of Colombian Minister.
Washington D. c., Feb. 19.-No
change was made today in the timer
ary of Secretary Knox's trip to Cen.
tral America because Of the Colom-
bia minister's letter of protest, against
the visit of Knox to that country. The
department will await word direct
from the Bogota government before
altering its plans.
Some intimation, either diplomatic,
ally confirming or repudiating the ac'
ton Of it's representative in Wash
ington. is expected within the next
twenty-four hours. No action OF any
kind in the matter is possible before
tomorrow.
The letter incident brought out 9
statement today by Representative
Rainey of Illinois, author of a resolu.
tion to submit Colombia's damage
claim to arbitration in which he de-
nounced the methods used by the
United States to acquire the Panama
canal zone.
Minister Ospina's letter." he said,
"forcibly calls attention to your inde'
fensible conduct for nearly ten years
in refusing Colombia the arbitration
she has requested"
The Panama incident, which has
been the subject of committee investl-
cation was denounced by Mr.. Rainey
as "the blacklist page In our history
as a nation" He charged that the
revolution was engineered by New
York promoter with the sanction and
aid of President Roosevelt and the
state department. "a
Wants Knox to Avoid COLOMBIA.
Profound disappointment in recent
intimations that Secretary Knox did
assurance Of the ultimate arbitration OF
her claims against the United States.
was generally described today as the
reason for the communication from
Senior Pedro del Ospina, the Colombian
minister last night. declaring that a
visit by Mr.. Knox to his country at the
present time would, be inopportune.
It developed today that when Senor
Ospina first read the white house an
, nouncement, week ago stating that
President Taft directed the secretary OF
state to visit the countries bordering
on the Caribbean seat, he hailed 1t with
unconcealed enthusiasm.
In a statement Of comment on the
Knox trip, prepared at that time but
not made public until today, the
Colombian minister foresaw q possible
recognition by the United States of the
demands Of Colombia for arbitration OF
the differences growing out Of the par
tition Of Panama and the acquisition by
this government Of the canal strip.
IF Mr. Knox. as sincerely hope"
wrote Senior Ospina at the time, "is
now fully cognizant of all the facts on
which the claims Of Colombia rest, n
have no doubt that his visit to my
country will be fruitful for he will find
that the popular feeling which at pres
eIlt prevails there as in most all South
American countries with regard to the
United States, was mainly caused by|
the manner In which that traditional
ally of the United States. Colombia,
was treated in 1903 and 1904 in connec-
tion with the severance of Panama and
by their having been so far no equit-
able settlement of Colombia's claims
growing out of that conduct.
''All good Colombians are heartily
desirous that such a feeling there, as
elsewhere in South America, be ap-
peased. The sooner the better: it is
never too late to do right. Colombia
cepted as her assertion. She has sim
ply demanded for the last eight years
that her claims be arbitrated so that.
whatever the result of that arbitration
may be, confidence and sincere friend
ship with the consequent development
of increasing commercial relations
with the United States be restored"
Senior Ospina smiled when he was
reminded of that comment today. "The
situation has changed he said. 1T Is
different now"
Minister May be Recalled.
No action had been taken and no Of
ficial would comment on it today, but
the incident is known to have stirred |
officials of the United States to such !;
an extent that the recall of the Colom-
bian minister is expected as matter
OF course At present. however, the
United States is disposed to wait until
Senior Ospina receives the instructions
he has asked for.
The attitude of the United States |
with respect to the partition Of Pan |
anna is said to have been unchanged !,
since 1905, when a three cornered
treaty between Panama, the United
States and Colombia was rejected by
the last named country.
The policy of the United States has
been that any differences growing out
OF the revolt of Panama from Colom-
bia should be settled by these two
countries and to submit the present I
claims of Colombia to arbitration would
be to admit that the United States
shares responsibility.
Negroes Shot In Court Room.
Shelbyville, Tenn, Feb. 19.-Three
negroes were shot dead in the county |
court room here this afternoon. They I
were charged with the murder of a
railroad detective several days ago
near Belt Buckle, Tenn.
EIgin Butter Quotation.