Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-22
The President Considering
the Arbitration Proposal.
IN CASE HE ACCEPTS
WOULD APPOINT A BOARD TO RE-
CEIVE THE EVIDENCE.
The Government Awaiting Formal
Answers of the Allies to Sugges-
tion of Reference to The Hague.


Dispatches from European capitals pub
lished this morning gave the impression
that the President had accepted the propo-
sition that he arbtrate the differences be-
tween Venezuela and the European powers.
This Impression is erroneous. There is
good authority for the statement that the
President has in no way acted upon the
proposition that he settle the trouble. The
understanding is that he has the ma tier
under consideration, and that he will give
no answer until he has fully and thor
oughy debated the matter in his own mind
and discussed 1t with Secretary Hay, which
he has been doing this afternoon in long
conference, and probably with other men,
bers Of his cabinet.
The Presidents nature Is not to shirk any
responsibility that the obligations of his
office impose upon him. and the general
impression that he will accept is based
mainly upon the knowledge of the Presi-
dents character. But at the same time
the president Is not unaware that the re-
sp0hsioillty would be an immense one.
Ihe general feeling is that the countries
most vitality interested have no Interior mo-
tves In trying to place such big burden
upon the shoulders of the chief executive
of this country. In other words 1t is he
HeVed that neither Germany nor England
would desire to entrap the President into
any affair that would be embarrassing for
MIN, and apparently their motives in ask
Ing him TO arbitrate are most friendly The
indications are that If the President does
not reach a conclusion before tomorrow he
VIII discuss the whole question fully with
ms cabinet then and announce his decision
shortly afterward
II the President should accept the pro-
posal. he would not have the time to per
sonalIy near all the evidence and the argu-
nehts that would have to be made. He
would appoint a body of men to represent
him In the whole affair. The probability is
that he would select the men who are the
representatives of this country on The
Hague arbitration tribunal
Awaiting Formal Answers.
The United States government Is await
Ing the reception of formal answers from
the allied governments to the Presidents
last suggestion that the Venezuelan dispute
be referred to The Hague. So far these re-
sponses have not come to hand but it is
pretty we'll understood that they will
hold out for the arbitration of President
Roosevelt himself. Signs point to the
PRESIDENTS ultimate acceptance Of the
trust. though until he has a chance to ex-
press himself personally nothing positive
can be known on that point. The State
Department has learned that President
Castro would welcome the selection of
President Roosevelt as arbitrator so that
all the parties interested are united and
the pressure will be hard to resist. Opin-
Ion varies as to the termination Of the
blockade of the Venezuelan ports. In some
quarters 1t is assumed that if President
Roosevelt accepts the duty of arbitrator,
the allies will call Off the blockade at once
On the other hand. 1t Is pointed out that
custom requires the terms of the arbitra-
tion to be pretty accurately defined, and
this will consume some time, pending which
the blockade will continue
SupDlementinR the british potioa of loe
week came messages to the State Depart
ment today from Berlin and Rome an
nouncing the participation of the German
and Italian governments in the blockade
Ambassador Tower at Berlin sent the full
text of the German proclamation, which
Is practically a duplicate Of the British
proclamation.
Blockade Established.
The following cablegram has been receiv-
ed from Commander Diehl Of the Marietta,
which now lies at La Guaira, dated yester-
day:
Secretary of Navy. Washington
British vice admiral established effective
blockade from and after December 20 OF
La Guaira, Carenero, Guanta Cumana
Sarupano and the mouths of the Orinoco
vessels sailing from the United States and |
the West Indies before the date of notiflca- |
tlon allowed grace steamers, ten days: sail. |
ing vessels, twenty days. Other ports, |
twenty sdlIS IOTty DAYS. YES |
seIs IN blockade ports. fifteen days. E'ulI |
text il desired"
The following cable message was made |
pupHc at the State Department today:
Berlin. December % 1902
Secretary of State, Washington
The German government announces of,i- |
clally the blockade of Puerto Cabello and |
Maracaibo to take effect December 20. Ships |
under other flags than that of Venezuela
sailing from West Indian or eastern Ameri- |
can ports before that date shall have an |
allowance of twenty days for sailing YES
sells and ten days for steam Ships coming
from all other ports shall be allowed forty |
days for sailing and twenty days for steam |
vessels. ships under other flags than that |
or venezuela and lying upon that date
within the blockaded ports shall be allowed |
fifteen days Ships which shall try to dis
regard the blockade shall be subject to the |
rules applicable either by international Ltw
or treaty provision to neutrals under such |
circumstances. TOWER"
Notification From R.me
Ambassador Meyer at Rome has cah,ed |
the Department of State that he received |
from the minister for foreign affairs yester- |
day an official note, dated December 20. an |
nouncing that Italy had decided to partici- |
pate with her naval forces in the blockade
or Venezuelan ports which had been de-
clared by the British and German govern
ments.
Lieut.. Johnston's Work at Caracas.
Lieut.. MarDury johnston, the officer de-
tailed by Admiral Dewey to go to the relief |
OF Minister Bowen at Caracas, has advised |
the Navy Department of his arrival there.
He will be stationed at the American lega-
tion as assistant to the minister. who has
under his protection British, German. Ital-
ian. Dutch and American interests When
Lieutenant Johnston arrived Saturday night
the city was quiet. though the anti-foreign
feeling was still intense. The Albany.
which conveyed Lieutenant Johnston to |
Venezuela, has returned to Culebra.
An Agreement Of Some Kind.
1t Is said at the State Department that
no matter how the two propositions for ar
bitration are disposed Of there will be no /
backward step and that an agreement of
some kind which will bring about a peace
able settlement Of the Venezuelan troubles
Will result from the present negotiations.
or course. II the President should accent
the charge. which he would only do as a |
last resort it Is understood that the actual
burdensome work of arbitrating the claims |
would not be undertaken by him personally |
but probably would be, as 10 customary in