Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-02-20
MUST Be AN INVITATION
FROM THE COLOMBIAN GOV.
EkNMIlNr BEFORE A VISIT
CAN BE MADE.
TROUBLE MAY RESULT
Ambassadors Not Causes Much lex.
element In the Highest Dip
lomatic Circles.

WASHINGTON, Feb. l9.-secre-
tary Knox will not visit Columbia
during his proposed tour Of the coun-
tries bordering on the Caribbean sea
unless there Is special invitation
from the Columbian government
This announcement was made NV
Acting Secretary Huntington Wilson
tonight, who also declared that no
enough such an invitation unlikely.
Ihere must be some confusion IN
inc Interpretation Of the report from
Falm Beach," he said that Secre-
lary Knox by carrying out the orig
mai itinerary laid out for him, wouId
include Columbia. Unless there is n
special invitation from Columbia. Mr.
AnoN VIII not go there. must say
that we hardly expect It,"
Mr. Wilson would not say wh.th-
er his prediction that no invitation
would be forthcoming was based ON
Senor Pedro Mel Osplnas personal
letter to him, made public yester.i-s.
or whether it was II consequence of
the strained relations existing for
the last eight years between the two
governments over the acquisition OF
the Panama canal zone
lie minated however, tIat the
state department felt no especial
concern over the action Of the COL
umbian minister and was not wrought
up over the incident.
Our position he remarked is
one Of self-contained unconcern."
No Insult Intended.
Senor Pedro Nels Ospina the CO.
lumbian minister tonight disclaltoe.
IN a public statement any intention
of insulting either the United States
government or Secretary Knox by his
personal notification to the state de.
partment that a visit to his country
by the secretary would be lnoppor-
tune"
The minister declares his letter
was INTENDED to be couchcd. and is
couched, In polite and considerate
language, and was written to avoid
any possible unpleasantness to Sec
retary Knox by visit to Columbla.,
Senior Osplna rlterated he thought
the trip "inopportune' because the
citizens OF Columbia were naturally
aggrieved to find they were the only
ones in the whole world with which
the United states refuses 10 -nter in.
to treaty Of arbitration.
The action Of Senor Ospina was
not commented upon at the state de,
partment today. There were indt-
cations, however. that Senior Ospinas'
act was regarded as n breach OF cu-
quette, not so ms"h because the fall
ure of his response TO state DEPART
ment communication. but becaue< he
had made public correspor 4 90
without securing the consent Y he
other party officials vcrsed I'm dip
lomatic etiquette incline 20 the opln-
lon that the letter itself oonmined ro
insulting language
Finds Many Sympathilcrs.
The action of Senior OspIu8 found
many sympathizcrs TO-DAY NOT only
among the mcNbers of the Latin
diplomatic corps. some Of whom pro-
fessed TO see political elevation. oven
20 The presidency, for Scnor Ospiu3
in Columbia, but some members u
congress as well, applauded the move.
Senior Ospina communicated 20 tho
state department, admittedly his per-
sonal view, it was said by some Dip
lomats, probably would be confirm
ed by the Columbian government.
This is assumed from the fact that
Senor Ospinl is a speeloi loader IN
the republic.
a severance OF diplomatic relations
thercfrom is looked for here as as
surcd unless the United States iudi-
Gates willingness to submit. differ
ences 10 arbitration, which is proc-
tlcally Columblas ultimatum.