The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-19
Minister From That Country
Says That 1t Would Be 81
Inopportune'
ACT IS REGARDED
rs DIRECT INSULT
General Ospina OF Opinion
That His Country Has not
Been Treated Right
as to Panama

UNJUST oppression OF I Dipf1 pa, as -
smaller, weaker and helpless nation.
General Pedro Mel Ospna. minister
from that republic. tonight made pub
lie a letter addressed by himself to
Huntington Wilson, assistant secretary
of State. in which he announced that
the proposed Visit of Secretary Knox
to his country is most inopportune."
Following directly upon the heels
of note handed in person To Sec
Rotary Knox, in which he accused the
United States government Of premeds
itatedly violating the treaty of 1885,
by which 1t agreed to maintain the
SOY ereignty of Colombia over the pros
vince of Panama, the action by Gem
eral Ospina Is regarded in the state
Department as direct insult to tho
American government.
Aroused by the letter to Secretary
Wilson, officials of this government
expressed belief tonight that as soon
as 1t heard of its minister's offense
Colon bia would Immediately cable
his recall.
If Colombia does not see fiji to- take
such action, the United States, 1t was
stated. will hand General ospina his
passports and demand an apology
from his government.
Situation Is Serious.
The seriousness of the situation
that has arisen over General osPiHa- =
letter Is demonstrated by the fact that
Assistant Secretary Wilson spent the
entire evening in consultation with
President Taft. He did not leave tho
White House until a few minutes be-
fore midnight.
n an interview at the Colombian
embassy tonight General Ospina OUT
lined the contents of the note that
he presented to Secretary Knox on
November Is. and to which he stated
he has not yet received reply
The note recites," he said. that
Colombia wishes to take up with the
United States the questions growing
out of the severance of the province
of Panama from the republic OF Coz
lonbia.
The republic of Colombia MAIN
tains that the United States entered
into a treaty in the year 1916. That
treaty imposed an obligation on tho
part Of the United States to main
tain the sovereignty and property OK
Colombia over and in the province
Of Panama. Such treaty obligations
have not been fulfilled by the United
States.
"On the contrary, we have lost the
province OF Panama because OF rev-
olution in which a few men partici-
pated.
Within seventy hours after the
outbreak of this revolution the new
republic was recognized by the United
States. Subsequently. in violation Of
its former treaty obligations with CO.
lombia. the United States entered into
a treaty with the province OF ran
anna. Panama was then and is now
a part OF the republic Of Colombia.
Treaties Contradict.
Thus the United States has signed
tNo contradictory treaties, IN one OF
which she promises Colombia that she
the other is treaty with Panama in
hich she agrees to Violate the nrSS
treaty. -
will keep the sovereignty intact. and
This the government of Colombia
regards AS a matter for arbitratlons
as she has never agreed 10 the in~
dependence of Panama.
Commenting on his note to Secro-
tary Knox. General ospina sad:
I'VE scarcely regard the outbreak
in Panama as revolution, but within \
seventy hours we found that II was
being backed by the United States.
which within an inereditahle space
of time. actually granted lndepeno-@
ence TO our province.
Immediately after the severance a.
Panama from Colnmhiar the Tpitea:
states entered into a compact With
the new republic in contradiction cfs
the promises made to Colombia In
1876. M
This We regard and still regard
as an act of bad faith We demande0E
that-the United States arbitrate th1s
question with This IL has refused
to do. The history OF recent times
will show that Colombia is the oElyfs
country with which the United States;
has refused to arhitrate. ~
In 1909. the Colombian minister III I
Washington. Mr.. Cortes, and the
United States government. drew a new
treaty which WAS intended 20 snioOt1ls
over the troubles that now exist.
Advises Against Knox Visit.
This treaty was rejected by the
Colombian assembly and was The
cause of the revolution that expell0ts
President Peyes from the country t0S
which he Is not able to return. SlLcoFs
that time feeling has run high. No
further effort was made to assert our
dignity and rights until my xovaRusE
inent instructed me to send the notos
OF November 18th, declaring SOW
ereignty over Panama and asking tclr
a settlement according to the enltGht&3
ened manner of nations. As haN0E
said no response Was made to H.
note.
when | received n letter from 4cNl4
ing secretary Huntington Wilson IA
-pising me that -kstss hi shs %
through Columbia | wrote him po9
sonal Letter which l have furnished G6
publication.
Perhaps it may not :apresent tN
views of my country. Tut | deem
my duty to advise Mr.. Knox ~ N
feeling against the United StatAG
Colombia as l know IL to exist
was entirely friendly ana not IN
slightest intended as Offensive. asSS
II don't know whether my 9oxe4
ment win recall me or not. M
see why II should considering the
tives OF my latter. Neither do. n 4M
the attitude of the Stase DcpArtf
towards me. sss S#S
II have mailed a copy Of mr.
to my government. I did n1t re1y6
as. Of broad Importance and \
sumo will hear from II III 1N
In tho meantime your C0H11
vogtiGatiug the a4VeroNoo$u