The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-21
CABINET TAXES UP
 OSP|NA'S LETTER Explanation Cabled to Min
 ister Dubois HEARINGS CONTINUE Might Be Too Expensive to Settle Matter in The Hague-Committee Will Consider Case Deliber-
 ately Before Reporting
HEARINGS CONTINUE

Washington, February 20.-President Taft took up the Colombian situation with his cabinet today and later dis cussed it with Huntington Wilson, Act ing Secretary of State.
 No official announcement was made of what action had been taken by the government. It was declared authori- tatively that the United States did not contemplate asking for the recall of Senor Ospina, the Colombian minister.
 report was current that full ex- planation of the attitude of the United States in the present controversy had been cabled to American Minister Du- bois at Bogota so that he might in formally advise Colombia.
 It is believed the Colombian gov ernment now will learn from Dubois that Secretary Knox did intend the initiation of some negotiations which might terminate the troubled relations which grew out of the revolt of Pan anna against Colombia.
 Invitation Doubtful
 Whether in view of such informa- tion Colombia might issue a special in- vitation to Mir. Knox is said to be based on the character of the negotiations which he would begin. The Colombian government is most insistent on arbi- tration through the Hague trib unal rather than any bipartisan committee of diplomats.
 It Is taken for granted here that the Colombian foreign office is well in- formed of developments in connection with Minister Ospina's letter.
 A special invitation to MT. Knox, though not expected here, would neces- sitate no change in the plans for his tour, provision having been made for a stop at Cartagena if Colombia were dis posed to desire 1t.
 Discussion of the situation in Mexico and Nicaragua in connection with the Knox trip today brought out state ment from the Mexican ambassador that his country would welcome the Sec retary.s while Dr. Salvatore Castrillo, the Nicaraguan minister, declared ene- mics of the administration in his country, notably those once in the em- ploy of Zalaya, were circulating false reports of conditions in Nicaragua and the kind of welcome that would be given to MT Knox.
 Far from supposing that the United States was interfering in its affairs, he asserted that. Nicara qua wei enmed Ar'ae erd1 aur sort or tht Inited Etatee.
 Might be Too Expensive
 Whether 1t would be dangerous from the standpoint of facing an enormous indem- nity verdict for the United States to sup init to The Hague tribunal claims of the e. public of Colombia for the Panama canal strip is question which the House com mittee of foreign affairs will thoroughly consider before making a report to Con gres of its investigation of Colombia,s atti- tude. Hearings on the Rainey resolution urging submission of the dispute and suit to The Hague continued.
 Henry N. Hall, of the New York World, summed up the evidence in the case, winch he said tended to prove that former President Roosevelt took the isthmus in violation of treaty obligations; that the revolution was fomented by this country, and that Colombia was enmeshed then and entitled to reparation now.
 Chairman Suzer asked MT. Hall how reparation should be given Colombia and how the suit settled.
 Settlement Difficult
 The fact that Secretary Knox was try ink to settle it indirectly was discussed MT. Hall declared, and he added he did not believe any settlement made by Co., lombia and the United States arbitrators with the president of some South Amer ican country as referee would be satis- factory to the Colombian people.
 colombia has good reason to beware of her own public men," said Mir. Hall, and so long as The Hague tribunal is in existence the United States and Co., lombia ought to be able to settle their differences there satisfactorily Recently Secretary Knox pointed out that the United States wanted to see all nations of the world settle differences at The Hague"
 How do you account for the fact" asked Representative Garner of Texas that Secretary Knox does not want to send this dispute with Colombia to The Hague?"
 ''I can well see how there is some hesi- tancy on his part to take into The Hague this indefensible case. He does not want to go in with losing case, in which the judges can do nothing but say we should pay Colombia the intrinsic value of the isthmus.''
 That this would amount to more than s1o0. .0e0 900 he estimated as a conservative figure.