Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-20

Washington, Feb. 19.-Profound dis
appointment on receiving limitations
hat Secretary Knox did not contem-
)late giving Colombia any assurance
s,f the ultimate arbitration of her
.laims against the United States was
generally ascribed, today, as the rea-
son for the expression from Senior
Pedro Mel Ospina, the Colombian min
ster, last night, that visit by Mr..
Knox to his country at the present
ime would be ''inopportune.'
II developed, today, that when Senior
ospina first read the White House an
lonncement a week ago stating that
President Taft had directed the sec
.etary of state to visit the countries
bordering on the Caribbean Sea. he
nailed it with unconcealed enthusiasm.
In statement of comment on the
Knox trip, prepared at that time, but
not made public until, today. the CO.
ombian minister foresaw possible
recognition by the United States of
he demands of Colombia for arbitra-
zion of the differences growing out of
Ehe partition of Panama and the ac-
1uisition by this government of the
canal zone strip.
IF Mr. Knox as I sincerely hope. >
wrote Senior Ospina at the time, lis
now fully cognizant of all the facts
oil which the claims of Colombia rest,
j have no doubt that his visit to my
country will be fruitful, for he will
find that the popular feeling which at
present prevails there, as in most all
South American countries, with regard
10 the United States, was mainly caus-
ed by the manner in which that ira
ditional ally of the United States,
Colombia, was treated. in 1903 and
1904, in connection with the severance
of Panama, and there having been so
far no equitable settlement of Colon
bias claims growing out of that con-
duct. All good Colombians are heart
lily DESTROYS that such feeling there,
as elsewhere in South America, be APP
peased. The sooner the better: it is
never too late TO right Colombia does
not ask that her contentious be ac-
eepted at her assertion. She has sim
ply demanded, for the last eight years,
that her claims be arbitrated, so that,
whatever the result of that arbitra-
ton may be, confidence and sincere
friendship, with the consequent de-
yelopment of increasing commercial
relations with the United States may
be restored. And / cannot but hope
that Mr.. Knox, who with the Presi-
dent, is one of the foremost champions
of general international arbitration.
win take advantage of his visit to
Colombia to show the world his sim
certify either here or there, by facili-
tating the open door to a door to
satisfactory settlement of these claims
by an arbitration honorable to both
governments and profitable to both
countries"
Senior Ospna smiled when he was re-
minded of that comment today.
THE situation has changed he said.
eli Is different now
During the week, it is reported, intima-
lions came to the Colombian minister
that Secretary Knox was rot bound Or
q mission of pacifieation of Latin-Amer-
Jean troubles To Senior Ospina, who. on
Nov Is last, presented a third request
from his government for arbitration and
10 which no reply had come, the expected
benefit of the Knox trip vanished. Hi
letter TO Acting Secretary Huntington
Wilson of the state department, express
ing his personal views that Mr.. Knox'i
trip would not be timely, followed as {
consequence.
Though Senior Ospina in that letter EN-
phasized that he was speaking on his
own behalf and without instruction from