The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-19
KNOX WILL GO ON.
tcontInued from Fac one.l


The Colombian minister. first draw
Ing attention to the fact that the
views are his own and not unofficial
~ those Of his government, seriously
criticizes the United States for not
submitting to arbitration the differ
ences with Colombia growing out Of
this governments acquisition OF the
Panama canal zone.
Inasmuoh as the letter, admittedly
is the personal expression of the min
lister, il was received at the state de-
partment as a personal insult to this
government
No action has been taken, but the
incident is known to have stirred Of
ficials of the United States to such an
extent that the recall of the Colon
bian minister is expected.
It is believed a termination Of diplo-
matte relations between this country
and Colombia is in prospect.
Acting Secretary Wilson had adj
vised Senior Ospina of the probable it
inerary of Secretary Knox. What is
said to have particularly aroused the
Colombian minister was a reference
to the republic of Panama in the it1n-
erary, a country whose independence
Colombia never has recognized.
A tentative itinerary Of Secretary
Knox makes provision for a stop at
Cartagena. Colombia, on March g.
The Minister'S Letter.
After the customary diplomatic pre-
ar1ble the minister's letter says:
Speaking therefore in my own name
and without any knowledge of the
views of my government on the matter,
7 take the ib. rty of suggesting that
there is perhaps reason for believing
that such a visit of his excellency the
secretary of state, may happen to be
considered as .nopportune at the pres
snt time, in view of the fact that Col
ombia still finds herself placed by the
United States in an exceptional posi-
ton, as the only member of the numer-
GUS family of independent nations
scattered over the face of the earth to
which, despite its constant demands,
the United States refuses to submit to
arbitration questions referring exclu-
sively TO the Interpretation o. public
treaties and the compliance with obli-
cations imposed by the universally ac-
cepted principles of international law
on all civilized nations in their rela-
tons one with another
TT is meet to mention here that even
the ex-prssident of the United States. ]
Mr. Roosevelt, both when he occupied /
that position and when. returned to pri- I
vate life, he has dealt in public with !
these matters, has always emphaticany /
maintained the propriety and desir- /
ability of submitting to the decision of .
an impartial tribunal of arbitration the +
decision of International controversies /
involving such questions.
Wishes to Avoid Trouble.
I shall appreciate it If this my sug-
gestion. is taken as born of the desire /
which animates me to avoid any occa-
sion OF aggravatfng the differences
which exist between the two, countries
and to see the hour arrive when thew
may be satisfactorily seLtled. to which
my country always has been and is now
disposed.
Nearly three months have eiaDsed
since. in compliance with the instructions
Of my government, I reiterated (Novem-
Der - to the government of the United
States the demand for the arbitration of
the existing controversy; and see my
self obliged to say with surprise and
modification. which you will doubtless
Wen understand, that up to the present |
/ have not had the honor of receiving a
reply One of the several grounds of |
complaint put forward, if my memory
serves me well, as I have not the docu- |
ment at hand. by the government of the
United States to the government of Great !
Britain in 1884. when in such peremp-
tory terms II demanded the submission !
to arbitration Of the boundary question
then pending with Venezuela, was as
you viii remember, that England had left
without reply for considerable length of
time an important note of the state de-
partment- Let it be to Colombia in her
weakness respectfully and candidly to
express how hard it is for her to see her
self subjected to a like treatment. ,
NO one who knows the unrest which is
being felt in my country at the delay In
tons Will fail to look sympatheticaIly
Upon the efforts which It is necessary FOR
ne to make that settlement be ar
lived at rapidly as possible
The attitude OF the United States with
respect to the partition OF Panama is
aid to have been unchanged since ions I
~hen g three-cornered treaty between I
Panama, the United States and Colon
ia was rejected by the last named coun- {
ny 7
The policy of the United States has {
been that any differences growing out of .
he revolt OF Panama from Colombia |
IhoE1ld be Settled by theose two countries
|