The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-19
Suggests Colombia May
Not Wish to Re-
ceive Knox.
GRAVE SITUATION
IS PRECIPITATED
Diplomatic Circles Believe Views
OF Senior Ospina Will Be Up
held by His Government and
Relations Will Be Termi-
nated-Still Angry Over
Panama Affair.

Washington, February ls.-A grave
diplomatic situation between the United
States and Colombia has been precipi-
lated by the publication of a letter
which Senior Pedro Mel Ospina. the
Colombian minister, has written to
Acting Secretary Huntington Wilson, OF
the state Department, suggesting that
1t might be "inopportune" for Score
tary hnoX to visit Colombia during the
projected tour of Central America
The Colombian minister. first draw
ins attention to the fact that the views
are his own. and not officially those OF
mis- government. seriously criticizes the
United States for not submitting to ar
httration the differences with Colom-
bia growing out of this governments
acquisition of the Panama Canal Zone
lnasmuch AS the letter. admittedly, is
the personal expression OF the minister,
written without having communicated
with his government. It was received
at the State Department in the nature
OF personal insult to this government.
Officials Arc Stirred.
NO action has been taken and no of
fetal would comment on it tonight.
but the incident Is known to have
stirred officials OF tho United States to
such an extent that the recall of the
Colombian minister Is expected as a
matter of course. At present, however,
the United States Is disposed to wait
until Senior OspIna receives the instruc-
tons he has asked for
In diplomatic circles it was believed
that Colombia. smartlng under eight
years of Intellectual attempts to secure
arbitration of the canal zone contro-
Versy. would confirm the unofficial
views of her accredited representative.
a more profound sensation Is looked
for and 1t is believed that termina-
ton Of diplomatic relations between
this country and Colombia is in pros
| pect.
Acting Secretary Wilson had advised
Senior Ospina of the probable intinerary
OF Secretary Knox. What s scid to
have particularly aroused the CoIom-
ban minister was reference to tho
republic OF Panama In the itinerary, a
country whose independence Colombia.
never has recognized. FIe makes yelled
reference TO the long delay OF the
United States in answering several
notes addressed to 1t, seeking arbitra-
ton, and charges that this government
has Disseminated against Colombia in
failing to give TO her arbitration which
the United States is now Offering to
other members of the family Of ma
tons.
tentative itinerary of Secretary
Knox tonight makes provision for a
| stop at Cartagena, Colombia on March
%.
Expects to Be Upheld.
Senior ospIna tonight was disposed
10 believe that his government would
Indicate to the United States that a
visit from Secretary Knox would be
untimcly unless the secretary came
prepared TO promise an carly arbitra-
ton OF dim erence. He declared that
his letter summed up the position of
Colombia as conclusive.
After the customary diplomatic pre-.
amble, the ministe letter says:
Speaking. therefore. in my own name
and without any knowledge Of tho
views OF my government on the matter
l take the liberty of suggesting that
there Is perhaps reason for believing
that such visit of His Excellency. the
Secretary of State may happen to be
CONSIDERED as inopportunc ut the pres
ent time, in view OF the fact that CO.
lomhia stu finds herself placed by the
United States In ar exceptional positton,
as the only member vi the numerous
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 exclusively 10 the
Interpretation OF public treaties and the
compliance with obligations imposed
by the universally accepted principles
OF International law OF all civilized
nations in their relations with one an
other. II is meet 10 mention here that
even the cX-Prasident of the United
states, Roosevelt, both when he occu-
pied that position ana when. returned
10 private life, he has dealt lii public
with these matters has always cmphat-
ically maintained tn ) proprety and de-
STABILITY of submitting 10 tho decision
nf ar impartial tribunal the controyer-
in en- INK s.,tr
Hopes for Settlement.
Il shall appreciate II If this, my sug-
sestion IS taken a 5 born OF the desire
which animates mo 10 avoid any occa-
sion of aGgravating the differences
which exist between the two countries
and Ia see the hour arrive whom thay
may he satisfactorily settled to which
my country always has been and Is
now disposed.
Nearly three months have elapsed
since, in compliance with Instructions
Of my government, reiterated (No-
vember l5) TO the government OF tho
United States the demand for tina
arbitration Of the existing contro-
versy and I see myself obliged to say
with surprise and modification, which
ydI will doubtless we'll understand
that up to the present nave not had
the homer of receiving a reply. Ono
of the powerful arguments of COM
plant put forward, II. my memory
serves ME well. as have not the docu-
ments at hand. by tho government OF
the United states 70 tho government
of Great Britain in 1884 when In
such peremptory, terms 1T demanded
the submission 70 arbitration OF the
boundary question then pending with
Venezuela was, YOU VIII well re- Y
member. that England had left With.
cut reply Tor q considerable length OF
time an important note OF liz Stata s.
Department.. Lot II be permitted to-