Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-12
GOES BACK ON. U.s..
So It Appears Of the PopuIace Of
Venezuela.
WILL HAVE NONE OF OUR TREATY,

Declaring That It Gives John Bull Whist
burgk Line-Hot I'm the Collar Also Ne
cause Little Venice Is Not Represented
on the Commission-Indicate Basis q
the Proposed New Tariff Bill.
Washington. Dec. 12.-WiIl Venezuela
reject the arbitration treaty? That is
the question here. News from Vene-
zuela threatens it's rejection, and,
should the news prove true, trouble
will ensue. This question has been
brought up by New York special
from Caracas that says Senior An
drade's return to the United States
has been delayed, notwithstanding
that President Crespo and the cabinet
had formally given their assent to the
treaty and called an extra session of the
Venezuelan congress which was ex-
pected to ratify their action. But pub
lie hostility in Venezuela to the treaty
that cost Secretary Olney SO much
trouble and a threat of war with Eng
land has alarmed the Venezuelan pres
ident. and Andrade remains in Caracas
to await developments. The Venezue-
Ian public is down on the fifty-year
| clause. 1t regards that clause as out
rageously inimical to Venezuela's in
terest" and las wholly in favor of Eng
land" Better lose the territory by
force" they say" than acquiesce in
the arbitration of the question under
| the terms of this treaty. We may re-
| gain it if we have to go to war over it.
1t is lost to us forever If we accept this
protocol"
Did the willy Salisbury Win:
Thus saith the special. 1t is held in
| Venezuela that under that fifty-year
clause Great Britain will hold every
thing up to the Schomburgk line. and
| Great Britain has always been willing
to arbitrate the territory outside of that
line. Should the treaty be rejected a
| revolution in Venezuela, it is said, will
follow. The Venezuelans are repre-
| scented as down on the United States
doing the whole business also; they
want a representative on the arbitra-
/, ton commission instead of being en-
| tirely ignored as they are by the treaty
Some of the officials here guardediy
say that possibly the treaty might be
| altered SO that at least one Venezuelan
would be selected for the arbitration
commission, and that in event Of Vene.
zuela not acquiescins in that commits
sion the United States would be apt t.
Withdraw from the controversy and
let Venezuela shift for herself.
| What a Venezuelan Paper Says.
The Venezuelan papers which reached
Washington on the last steamer are be.
ing carefully scanned, but they are very
guarded and appear to be subject Il
some government advisement on the
subject. La Liberal treats the settle
ment as advantageous. 1t says: "Th,
agreement established an authorized
precedent to settle any other futur,
conflict that may arise between tn,
American nations and European coun
tries. At the same time that We hav.
gained our point, our mediator has sue
ceeded in enforcing respect and recogni
ton to the great principle of America.
international law by which the Ameri
can continental policy will not be tro,
upon with impunity by Europe. From
today the north American people stan,
} as a sentinel along the Atlantic to com
pei acknowledgement of the justice an,
right fits South American brother
against the ambition of Europe I
| dominate"
Venezuela May Yet Come to Terms.
This was the first utterance at Cara
cas-, and with this sentiment prevail
ing Andrade's plans to return wer
made. The adverse agitation now re
ported and Andrade's determination {
defer his return makes the acceptanc
. of the treaty less assured. though 4
diplomatic circles 1t is believed tina
Venezuela in time will accept, becaus
> of the seeming affront which advers
action would lie to the United State
l hoo fAd
. treaty and thus far his influence Ia
been exceedingly potent In shaping til
| policy Of his nation.