The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-23
VENEZUELAN ARBITRATION.
ROOSEVELT WILL ACCEPT JOB
IF POWERS INSIST.

Will NOT Shtrk Responsibility AIthougn
He Is ReIuctant-Powers Transmit
Their Notes Inviting Him to Act-A
Long Conference With Secretary Hay
-QuestioB of referring she Matter to
The Hague Court.
Washington, Dec. 22.-President
Roosevelt has not accepted the position
versy. In fact, when the official day
closed he had not received, formally or
officially request from the European
powers that he act as arbitrator of the
dispute. These statements are made
on the highest authority.
In an informal manner the president
has been notified that the European
powers intimately concerned in the
present South American difficulty de-
sire that he undertake the responsible
ity of acting as arbitrator of the points
at issue between them and Venezuela.
''soundings" with a view probably of
ascertaining how he would receive a
formal proffer to act as arbitrator. The
president, so soon as he received the
first intimation that he was desired as
arbitrator of the Venezuelan contro-
Versy, expressed emphatical!y his judg-
ment that the matters to be arbitrated
should be referred to The Hague tribu-
nal. His view Of the suggestions made
has been conveyed to the European
powers, together with strong present
alton of his reasons for the view he
holds. No response of formal nature
to these representations has been re-
ceived.
While it is recognized by the presi-
dents closest advisors and by the pres
ident himself that some unpleasant pos
sibilities might attend his performance
of the duties of arbitrator of the pend
ing Venezuelan difficulty, his friends
assert that he will shirk no RESPONSE
bility that he may deem it his duty to
undertake, but will accept if the pow
ers should insist on it, though he is
very reluctant to do so.
The president and Secretary Hay had
a long conference to-day after the for
mers return from his Virginia trip.
They carefully went over the situation
as it had developed since Saturday, but
1t is understood that nothing has arisen
e. during the past forty-eight hours to
warrant the president in changing his
opinion as to the undesirability of his
acceptance of the position of arbitrator
So far as can be learned, no specific
reasons have been advanced by the Eu-
ropean powers for objecting to ref
, erence of the Venezuelan questions to
the arbitration of The Hague tribunal.
1t is held by the administration that the
tribunal at The Hague was constituted
to arbitrate just such controversies and
that it would be desirable from every
viewpoint that the present dispute
should go to that tribunal for adjust
ment. How strong the objections,
which Great Britain, Germany and Italy
have to reference of the Venezuelan diff
ficulty to The Hague tribunal is not
known to the administration at this
time. Even the nature of the objec-
tions, if any there be, is not known. The
negotiations looking to the selection of
an arbitrator have not progressed suf-
ficiently yet to develop such objections
as the powers may have.
The acceptance by the powers of the
principle of arbitration as applied to,
the Venezuelan question is a matter of
great qualification to the president and
his cabinet. That all the powers have
intimated, too, that they would prefer
the president should arbitrate the pres
ent dispute is taken as notable COM
pliment to the president personally and
to his administration. It is the hope of
both the president and his advisers,
however, that while there is precedent
for his acceptance Of the post of arbi-
traitor the powers will consent to ref
erence of the controverted matters in
the Venezuelan question to the tribunal
at The Hague.
Berlin Dec. 22-The notes of Germany
and Great, Britain, formally inviting
President Roosevelt to act as arbitrator
in the Venezuelan dispute, were hand
ed to the United States ambassador
here and to the United States charge
d'affaires in London to-day
Rome, Dec. 23.-The reply of the Ital-
ian government concerning the proposal
that President Roosevelt arbitrate the
3 Venezuelan issues will be handed to
Ambassador Meyer to-day. The Ital-
ian communication will express views
identical to those held by Great Britain
and Germany in this respect.