Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1902-12-26
POWERS WILL ARBITRATE
Great Britain, Germ any and Italy Send
Venezuelan Answer.
BERLIHs REPLY is UNSATISFACTORY.

VSy EtUlH ShcuU-hsAS HuICuuS ivi thC |
Arrest of Cousuls and Stacking Of Legation
highlands Chief Concern is for Adequate
Guarantee Hay viii Ask Allies to Recede.
Washington, D. C.. (SpeciaD .-Secre
tary Hay has received partial responses
from the Governments of Great Britain,
Germany and Italy respecting the pro-
posal to arbitratc the Venezuelan diff
fculties.
Great Britain is favorable to arbitra
ton with proper safeguards.
Germany accepts arbitration in prin-
eiple, but finds multitude OF small adj
iustmcnts to be made before entering
into the agreement. s
Italy. as the junior partner OF the
allies. declares that she is favorable to
arbitration, but will be bound probably
by the action of the senior partners.
AS far as England is concerned. the
safeguards referred to are believed to
relate to the question OF guarantee,
which is full of difficulties. Some con-
sideration is again being given to the
feasibility OF the assumption OF
responsibility for any award assessed
against Venezuela but the United
States Government is determined not
to allow itself to be drawn into the po-
sition OF a g,iarantor in this case, for
the precedent. once established. might
require the United States to become the
financial hacker of all South and Cen
trail America. However, it private con-
Germs can be induced to enter the field
the United States Government will do
what it can to reduce their risks.
Secretary Hay. Sir Michael Her
bert, the British Ambassador. and Sen
ator Depew were in conference, and it
is suspected that this phase of the case
was touched upon, although no confir-
nation can be had at this time.
The German position presents the
greatest difficulties, for not only does 1t
involve demand for apologies. which
are extremely repugnant to Venezue-
lans, but also presents so many points
requiring adjustment that it is evident
that many days, or perhaps weeks, must
elapse before that adjustment can be
effected and the case prepared for arbl-
tration.
The danger of the delay in the face
| of blockade, which seriously cripples
| neutral commerce and invites hostile
collisions with the Venezuelans, cannot
| be overestilna.ed The effort OF the
| United States, therefore. must be dl-
rected toward fastening Germanys ac-
| ton on the arbitration proDosal and
| toward endeavoring to persuade 1t to
| rccede on some particular.
| The Italian position is. OF course, OF
| less concern than that Of the other al
| lies The Italian ambassador here, i'll
| his intercourse with the State DEPART
| ment, has been extremely moderate
and considerate giving Secretary Hay
| the impression that he is well disposed
| to second any effort OF the United
/ States to terminate the present dan
| gerous situation.
] The French Government has served
aotice that, without abating her claims,
| the payment for which has been ar
| ranged, she also claims the right to
| have the claims OF the French citizens
| which have arisen since the adjustment
above spoken OF considered by the joint
| tribunal which will adjust the Venezu-
| elan debts on a basis OF equality with
| those OF the other nations.
This contention is strongly resisted
| by some of the allied Powers, and is
| one OF the points winch is likely TO lead
| to the consumption OF much time and
which must be disposed OF before a
| final arrangement can be made to arbl-
| trate the case.
Secretary Hay laid before the Cabi-
net meeting the latest phases OF the
Venezuelan situation as shown by the
correspondence he had had with Our
Ambassadors and the Foreign Offices
at London, Berlin and Rome, and also
acquainted the members with the sub
stance OF the verbal exchanges which
had taken place with the Ambassadors
from those capitals in Washington.
After thorough discussion OF the
subject, the Cabinet gave its unquali,,
fed approval to everything that had
been done by Secretary Hay and also
to his plans for the future. SO lar as
they were outlined 1t is gathered that
the attitude of the United States is
for the present a waiting one, III the
hope that the allies will soon be able
to agree upon the basis upon which
they arc willing to accept arbitration.