The Cerruti case and the diplomatic crisis between Colombia and Italy (1885-1911)

In February 1885, during the civil war between the conservative and the upl eaved liberal party in the Colombian federated state of Cauca, the real est ates and properties of the Italian subject Ernesto Cerruti were destroyed a nd impounded, under the charge of cooperation with the insurgent liberal fo rces. The measures taken by the Caucan authorities and the subsequent deman d for compensation by Cerruti were the cause of the 26 years long lasting d iplomatic clash between Colombia and Italy, which led to the intervention o f Spain and USA as arbitrators as well as to a myriad of official publicati ons, civil lawsuits at Italian courts and warships sent to Colombian harbou rs in order to uphold the claims of Italy. No doubt the "Cerruti case" was one of the most complicated of international cases Italian diplomacy ever h ad to face, in which the Italian government also had to confront the rising North American imperialism.