Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-12-22
POWERS MAKE REPLY
England conditionally Accepts Arbi.
tration Of Venezuelan Claims.
LoNGDELAY SEEMS CERTAIN
~rnsny's Acceptance Involve.
"a That Castro Apologize
!A'eged lndignitiss-France
Add" to the Complications,

washington. Dec. O.-Secretary Hay
'"s received partial responses from thp
governments of Great Britain, Germa.
ny ana Italy respecting the proposal to
hrDitrate the Venezuelan difficulties
ureal Britain is favorable to arbitra
''oii with proper safeguards; Germany
accepts arbitration in principle, but
nhus multitude Of small adjustments
TO be made before entering into the
agreement; Italy as the junior partner
VI the allies declares that she is favor.
aoie to arbitration, but will be bound
PROBABLY by the action of the senior
partners.
10 secure these results the American
embassies at London, Berlin and Rome
nave been working energetically to car.
ny out the instructions Of Secretary
Lay to ascertain how the pro,,osa,
would be received. As far as England
Is concerned, the safeguards referred
TO are believed to relate to the question
or guarantee, which is full of Difficult
ties.
IN this connection some consideration
Is again being given to the fea sibility of
the assumption Of responsibility for
any award assessed against Venezuela
by responsible agencies, but the United
States government is determined not to
allow itself to be draw into the pOsi-
ton of guarantor in this case, for the
precedent, once established, might re-
quire the United States to become the
financial hacker of all South and Cen
trail America. However, il private con-
Germs can be induced to enter the field
the United States government will do
what it can to reduce their risks. Sec
rotary Hay, Sir Michael Herbert, the
British ambassador, and Senator De
pew were in conference during the day.
and it is suspected that this phase of
the case was touched upon, although no
confirmation can be had at this time.
The German Position.
The German position presents the
greatest difficulties, for not only does 1t
involve demand for apologies which
are extremely repugnant to Venezu-
clans, but also represents so many
points requiring adjustment that it is
evident that many days or perhaps
weeks must elapse before the adjust
Inent can be effected and the case pre-
pared for arbitration. And the danger
Of delay In the face of blockade
which seriously cripples neutral COM
MERGE and invites hostile collisions
with the VenezueMns cannot be over
estimated The efforts of the United |
States, therefore, must be directed to-
ward fastening Germany's action ON
The arbitration proposal.
The Italian position is, of course, of |
less concern than that of the other al |
lies. The Italian ambassador here in
his intercourse with the state depart
ment has been extremely moderate and
giving Secretary Hay the
that he is we'll disposed to
second any effort of the United States
% terminate the present dangerous sit
latiOn.
The French government has served
notice that without abating her claims
he payment for which has been ar
'anced she also claims the right to
nave the claims of French citizens
which have arisen since the adjustment
lbove spoken of considered by the
ont tribunal which will adjust the
debts on basis of equal
ty with those of the other nations.
This contention is strongly resisted by
ONE of the allied powers and is one OF
he points which are likely to lead to the
of much time and which
must he disposed of before a final ar
anrement can be made to arbitrate
he case.