Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-12-26
ROOSEVELT Asked
TO ARb|TRATE
Reply Of Powers to Suggestion
That Trouble Be Referred :
to the Hague Tribunal.
A PECULIAR SITUATION
We're President to Act - Arbitrator His
Position Would He Delicate-Does Not
Want Job-He Might Accept II No Other
Way to Peace Could he Found.


Washington, Dec. 22-President
Roosevelt has proposed to the allied
powers that the Venezuelan dispute be
submitted to the arbitration of The.
Hague tribunal. The powers have re-
piled with counter proposition that
President Roosevelt himself arbitrate
the issues.
These were the developments Sat
urday in the Venezuelan matter, and
they seem to justify the prediction
made in these dispatches that the
critical point has been passed. Presi.
dent Roosevelt does not wish to act as
arbitrator In the dispute. for as it is
felt here he would be at once Judge
jury and constable and would be under
the moral obligation to execute his
own Judgment. The president feels
that q reference to the Hague tribunal
would vastly strengthen the cause of
arbitration.
Still. rather than let the present
dispute proceed to extremes, it is
probable that the president will reluc.
family assume the duties OF Arbitrator.
1t ia fully realized that any decision
rendered by him in that capacity
would be sure to bring him the emnity
of one or the other Of the parties to
the controversy, and the fact was
pointed out to the president early in
the week by leading senator who
had been called into consultation.
Nevertheless, to prevent bloodshed
and the destruction Of property and
interference with great commercial
interests that would result in loss it
is believed that the president would
assume the charge, providing his own
view cannot prevail
An important fact developed Satur.
day is that the punative measures
about to be instituted. and in fact
now in force in some degree will not
be suspended by the allies until def
mite agreement Is reached as to the ar.
bitration.
Venezuela also has been told
through Minister Bowen that the
president would welcome a reference
OF the dispute to the Hague tribunal.
While no direct reply has been receiv-
ed. it is not doubted that the reply
will be favorable If the other parties
consented to such reference.
If an agreement Is reached on arbi-
tration the procedure would be for
Minister Bowen, representing Vene
zuela as a plenipotentiary to sign
with the representatives of the allies
a protocol stating that the case is to
be submitted to arbitration; that
Venezuela :dmits the right of diplo-
matte Intervention in behalf of
claimant, a principle she has always
resisted and that the details of the
arbitration shall be arranged in for
NAL treaty which she pledges herself
to sign. This treaty will provide in
the greatest detail for the security of
foreign interests against vexations
and extortionate interference on the
part Of the Venezuelan government
hereafter and will insure the admins
tration OF exact justice in the settle
ment of claims. and especially will it
relieve foreign residents OF Venezuela
from forced loans and persecution in
times Of revolution.
The status Of the arbitration nego-
tiations at the close Of the official day
as disclosed at the ctate department
was that the powers we're waiting for
AL answer from the president to their
proposal that he himself undertake
TO arbitrate the Venezuelan difficulty.
The Presidents answer can only be
guessed at, for the officials decline to
express .ny opinion Of their own.
However, it is believed, to be safe
prediction that he will repeat his sug-
gestion that the case be- "bmitted to
The Hague tribunal, add. to the ar
gument he has already produced the
fact the United States having claims
of its own against Venezuela to the
amount OF 100000. 1t is party in in
terest, end it would be unfair to put
the president n the position Of having
to arbitrate his own claim. For their
part, the: powers bring against The
Hague proposition the argument that
President Castro would feel lightly
bound by any decision by that tri-
bunal, but would ne certain to heed
q judgment rendered by President
Roosevelt.
It is said at the state deartment
that no matter how these wo propo-
sitions are disposed Of, there will be
no backward step, and that an agree.
ment OF some kind which will bring
about a peaceable settlement of the
troubles will result from
the pre- lent negotiations.
OF course, if u president should &C
cept the charge, which he would |
only do as last resort, it is under
stood that the actual burdensome |
work OF arbitrating work Of arbitrat- |
Ing the claims would not be under
taken by him personally; but prob.
ably would be. as is customary In |
such cases. confided to one of the |
efficient and trained assist
ant secretaries of the department.
ITALIAN WARsHiP RAISES FUSS
Caracas, Dec. 24.-The captain OF
the Italian warship Giovanni Bausan
has issued notification that he will
not allow the American Red Line
steamer Caracas to enter La Guaira
1arbor, where she is due today.
The announcement has created great
excitement among the foreign import
srs. The action Of the Italian COM
nander is in contradiction OF the
New taken by the captain of the Brit
sh cruiser Tribune. which, before his
departure from this port advised the
British consul that the Caracas would
,e allowed to enter the port.
Jeffries Lost Fierce Fight
Butte, Mont, Dec 22.-Champion
[effries lost decision in four round
contest with Jack Monroe after four
ounds of the fercest fighting Butte
las seen for some time. AT one time