Señor Rengifo to Mr. Sherman.
Washington, June 29, 1897.
Honorable Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to address you for the purpose of informing you that yesterday, at 3 o’clock p.m., I was informed by his excellency the ambassador of Italy at this capital that in obedience to instructions from his Government he had addressed a communication to you, requesting, through you, the President of the United States of America, as arbitrator in the Cerruti case, to explain the concluding portion of article 4 of the decision rendered on the subject by his predecessor, the Hon. Grover Cleveland, concerning which measure the Government of Italy and that of Colombia are in full accord.
I was under the impression that I was to proceed in concert with his excellency the ambassador aforesaid, but since he has acted independently in laying the views of his Government before the President of the United States, I shall do the same; only, as I shall have to prepare the necessary document, for which I shall need some days, I have deemed it my duty to explain to you the reason of the delay that must take place before I can have the honor to submit to you the respectful request of my Government to the President of the United States of America, together with a statement of the grounds on which it bases its interpretation of the concluding portion of article 4 of the decision of March 2, 1897, and in doing so I trust that you will kindly accept this explanation.
With sentiments of the highest and most distinguished consideration, I have the honor again to sign myself, honorable Mr. Secretary,
Your obedient servant,
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of Colombia.