Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-12-26
ROOSEVELT IS UNDECIDED
Has Not Yet Made Up Mind to Accept or
Refuse Arbitration Proposal.
GERMANY WANTS SOME CASH IN ADVANCE
says Claim of Nearly Two MiIlIOA
BoIivars Must he Paid Before
Peaceful Means of Settle
ment Are Agreed To.

ment Are Agreed To.
| Copyright, 1902, by Press Publishing Coz
CARACAS. Dec. 25-(New York World
( Cablegram-Special Telegram president
| Castro has replied to a proposal alleged to
have been received from Washington con-
senting to the submission Of all dlfhculties
/ 10 The Hague court Of arbitration. He is
now at La Victoria and telegraphed his
answer here, where It has been trans
mitted to Secretary Hay.
| La Vela, the port of Coro is open, the
| only Venezuelan ports west OF La Guayra
which are blockaded being Puerto Cabello
and Maracaibo.
The price of -four has gone up here 81
a barrel
| callNd on Mr.. Bowen today, but he
knows nothing definite about arbitration,
although he expects an early and peaceful
settlement Of the troubles with European
| governments.
| He declined to be interviewed, explaining
that the State department at Washington
would think It reprehenslble IL he talked
for publication. A Venezuelan offlcial in
forms me. however. that the power con-
ferred upon Mr.. Bowen by this government
is without reservation and that all the
American minister is asked to do is to get
the best terms of peace for Venezuela he
| can.
Washington Omcials in Bed.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.-No information
could be obtained in Washington tonight Of
the report coming from Caracas that the
proposition had been made to President
Castro to refer all differences to The
Hague tribunal. Secretary Hay had re-
tired when the dispatch arrived and no
other oficial of the State department was
able to give any information on the sub
| ject.
1t is known that only two days ago Pres
ident Roosevelt had not determined whether
or not to accept the proposal OF the allies
/ or to urge again that the question should
J go to The Hague. II. as stated, the sug-
| gestion has come from Washington that
the matter should be arbitrated at The
Hague, that conclusion probably was
reached at the long conference the preai-
dent had with Secretary Hay yesterday aft
ernoon when the two oficisls we're together
for some time considering the proposals
| from the allies.
The dispatch to President Castro through
Mr.. Bowen suggesting arbitration at The
Hague must have followed that conference
The oficials here have refused abso-
lutely to say anything on the subject since
the receipt of the proposal from the al
| lies or even TO give out anything bearing
ON the terms Of that proposal though the
impression here tonight IL that an early
determination of the matter will be
reached.
No matter who arbitrates, the feeling
here is strons that the United States gov
ernment. IL the occasion arises, will In
sist that the existing blockade be called on
/ a.
| presence Of the blockadlng feet along the
Venezuelan coast being considered a men
ace to peaceful conditions. But the great
est objection to a continuance Of the block
ade pending arbitration will be the loss
to American shipping interests, which this
government does not believe should be toll
Grated.
1t was stated at the State department
today that the president had reached no
| decision in regard to the invitation OF the
powers to arbitrate the Venezuelan mat
! ter
| 1t is possible that this decision will not
be forthcoming for several days, as corre-
spondence is still being exchanged daily
between the State department and the
foreign Offices with reference to the in
vitatlon.
Secretary Hay was at the White House
/
with the president on the situation.
Asks Cash in Advance.
BERLIN, Dec. 25.-The Lokaller-Anzeiger
publishes the following statement, which
was evidently inspired by the Foreign Of
| fee:
The German government has excluded
| from the scope of arbitration claim of
| 100000 bolivars, which must be paid i'm
mediateiy in cash before arbitration can
| be begun.
The paper adds that it is understood
here that II President Roosevelt agrees
| to arbitrate his acception will involve an
indirect guaranty for the payment OF any
award.
| ROME, Dec. 25.-The only conditions
| which Italy has attached to its acceptance
OF arbitration are that all points shall
be submitted to the arbitraIors. SO that no
questions shall be left undecided, and that
Italian claims must be considered on an
equality with those Of the other powers.
What f. Hague Tribunal Fort
| PARIS Dec. 25.-Baron d'Estournelles
de Constant has notified the foreign min
lister that he will interpellate the govern
ment on the reassembling OF the chamber
concerning the disregard Of article 27 Of
The Hague convention shown by the AL
lied powers in coercing Venezuela.
| baron q dEstourheiles strongly supports
! the contention OF the United States that
| the Venezuelan trouble should be referred
10 The Hague court. After pointing out
that the present is Just the contingency
! contemplated by article 27. he says;
| The conflict rests between Venezuela aid
/ several OF the signatories to The Hague
1 convention and the formal obligation that
| France and the twenty-five other powers
| signed is not only being ignored, but we
| observe a systematic Introduction OF The
/ Hague court of arbitration by the Euro
| pean governments. An explan alton has be-
| come necessary II cannot be objected by
| the allied powers that Venezuela took no
/ part In the conference and as Il Is asking
I for arbitration an occasion exists for re-
| minding the powers OF the obligations they
| signed and ratified. Neither can the reply
| be made that states unlike individuals, are
| free not to observe their engagements and
! that moral obligations exist only for indi-
| Viduals or for the weak as this point of
| view Is precisely contrary to the principle
/ that The Hague conference sought TO Sc
| cure.
! WILLEMSTAD, Curacao. Dec 25.-The
American Red d line steamer Caracas has
brought the remainder of its cargo here
The wArships of the allied powers are US
ing searehlights to watch the coasts Of
Venezuela.