Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-02-19
Suave Senor Pedro Mel 0spina
Politely HurIS EpiStoIary
Bomb Shell Into State De-
partment at Washington,
SUGGESTS KNOX VISIT
MIGHT BE lN0PP0RTUNE
Draws Attention of Failure of
United States to Submit Pan
anna Controversy to lnterna-
tionaI Arbitration,

tionaI Arbitration,
Try Morning journal Special Leased Wire.l
Washington. Feb. lS.--A grave Dip
lomatic situation between the United
States and Colombia has been prcclpi-
tated by the unofficial letter which
SCnur Pedro Mel Ospina, the Colom-
hian minister has written TO Acting
Secretary Huntington Wilson, OF the
state department, suggesting that 1t
might be "inopportune'' for Secretary
Knox To visit Colombia during his
projected tour OF Central America.
The Colombian minister, first draw
ing attention 10 the fact that the
Views are his own and not officially
those of his government, seriously
crticizcs the United States for not
submitting to arbitration the differ
encer with Colombia, growing out of
1his governments acquisition of the
Panama canal zone.
lnasmuch as the letter. admittedly
Is the personal expression of the min
istcr. II was received al the state de-
partment as personal insult to this
government No action has been taken
but the incident is known to have
stirred officials of the United States
to such an extent that the recall OF
IN Colombian minister lis expected.
Ii may mean the termination of
diplomatic relations between this
country ana Colombia.
Acting Secretary Wilson had adj
vised Senor Ospina of the proba bic
itinerary of Secretary Knox. What Is
said to have particularly aroused the
Colombian minister was q reference
10 the republic OF Panama In the itin-
l.strs Hsn.
colombia never has recognized.
tentative itinerary OF Secretary
Knox tonight makes provision for a
stop at Cartagena. Colombia, on
March 25.
After tho customary diplomatic pre-
amble. the minister's letter says.
speaking therefore In my own
name, and without any knowledge OF
the views OF my government on the
matter, ! take the liberty of suggest
ing that there Is perhaps reason for
believing that such a visit OF his ex
cellency. the secretary of state, may
happen to be considered as inoppor-
tune at the present time In view of
the fact that Colombia still finds her
self placed by the United States I'm an
exec Cptional position rs the only mem
bor Of the numerous family of indie
pendent nations scattered over the
face of the earth To which. despite its
constant demands. the United states
re fuses 10 submit to arbitration ques-
tions referring exclusively 10 the in
terprctation of public treaties and the
compliance with obligations imposed
By the universally accepted principles
OF international law on all civilized
nations in their relations one with
another.
m Is meet to mention here that
even the ex-prcsdent of the United
States. Mr. Roosevelt, both when he
occupied that position and when. re-
turned To private life, he has dealt In
public with these matters, has always
cmphntically maintained the proprie;3
and desirability of submitting To the
judgment Of an impartial tribunal of
arbitration the deciEion of intcrna-
tional controversies involving such
questions.
II shall appreciate II 1t this. my
suggestion, is taken as born OF the
desire which animates me to avoid
any occasion OF aggravating the DIFF
fcrences which exist between the two
countri - and to see the hour arrive
when they may be satisfactorily set
tied. 10 which my country always has
been and Is now disposed.
Nearly three months have elapsed
tions of my government. J reiterated
CNovember 25) To the government OF
the United states the demand for the
arbitration of the existing controversy;
and | see myself obliged To say. with
surprise aud mortitication, which
Won win doubtless well understand.
that up Ia the present have not had
the honor ot receiving ropit. one
OF tho several grounds OF complaint
a a
mc wen as ! have not the document
at hand. by the government of the
United States to the government of
Great Britain in 1881. when in such
pefemptorN terms, II damanded the
submission 10 arbitration of the
boundary question when pending With
Venezuela was. as YOU VIII remem-
her, that ENGLAND had left without re-
ulN for a considerable length OF time
an important note Of the state de-
partment. Let "a be permitted to CO.
lombiu. in her weakness. respectfully
and candidlv To-. express how hard II
is for her Co see herfelf subjected TO
q like treatment
.No one Who knows the unrest
which is being felt in my country az
tr. DELAY in tns satisfactory disposal
OF these questions. viii fail TO look
symlathetically upon the efforts which
% is necessary FOR me TO make that =
settlement boz arrived at as rapidly as
possible.
Tho attitude Of the United states
with respect 10 the partition OF Pam
nma Is said 90 have been unchanged
since 1906. 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
tecn that any difference growing out
~ the revolt Of Panama from colofn-
i.ia should be settled by those two
countries and TO submit the present
claims OF Colombia 10 aroiiratlsas