Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-12-25
RESPONSE GIVEN BY THE POWERS
SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES IN THE
WAY OF ABSOLUTE AC.
CEPTANcE.
GERMANY WANTS AN APOLOGY
kAISER'S GOVERNMENT PRE-
SCENTS THE WORST STUN
BLING BLOCK.

London, Dec. 22.-The basis for ar
bitration with Venezuela. and a set
Element of the present dispute will be
a guarantee by ]. & w. Seligman of
the English and German claims to the
extent of 100000. 1t is expected
that the matter will be arranged with
in few days. The Washington gov
eminent, which has declined to be in
any respect party to the financial
transactions, has agreed to use its
good offices in support of Mr.. Selig-
man in the execution of the terms of
his agreement with Venezuela.
Washington, Dec. %. - Secretary
Hay has. received partial responses
from the governments of Great Brit
ain, Germany and Italy respecting the
proposal to arbitrate the Venezuelan
difficulties.
Great Britain is favorable to arbi-
tration with proper safeguards; Ger
many accepts arbitration in principle,
but finds multitude of small adjust
ments to be made before entering into
the agreement; 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.
To secure these results the Ameri-
can embassies at London, Berlin and
Rome have been working energetical-
ly to carry out the instructions of
Secretary Hay to ascertain how the
proposal would be received. AS far
as England is concerned, the
Safeguards Referred To
are believed to relate to the question
of guarantee, which is full of difficult
ties. In this connection some consid-
Grafton is again being given to the
feasibility of the assumption of re-
sponsibility for any award assessed
against Venezuela by responsible pri-
vate agencies, but the United States
government is determined not to allow
itself to be drawn into the position of
a guarantor in this case, for the prece-
dent once established, might require
the united states to become the f1nan-
cial hacker of all South and Central
America. However, if private concern
can be induced to enter the field, the
United States government will do
what it can to reduce their risks.
Secretary Hay, Sir Michael Herbert,
the British ambassador, and Senator
Depew were in conference yesterday
and it is suspected that this
Phase of the Case
was touched upon, although no con-
firmation can be had at this time.
The German position presents the
great difficulties, for not only does Il
involve demand for apologies, which
are extremely repugnant 10 Venezuela,
but also presents so many points re-
quiring adjustment that it is evident
that many days or, perhaps, weeks,
must elapse before the adjustment can
be effected and the case prepared for
arbitration. And the danger of delay
in the fact of a blockade which seri-
ously cripples neutral commerce and
invites hostile collisions with the Ven
ezuelans cannot be over-estimated.
The efforts of the United States,
therefore, must be directed toward
fastening Germany's action on the
arbitration proposal.
Germany Is Willing.
Berlin, Dec. 22.-The answer of Ger
many to the arbitration in behalf of
Venezuela, received through the
United States government, is it's &C.
ceptance.
The delivery of this reply to the
United States for transmission to Min
lister Bowen is delayed for a day or
two for tactical reasons, probably
through the expectation that another
solution may be found, possibly by
President Castro yielding. Four days
ago the idea of the German govern
ment was in favor of rejecting arbi-
tration, and that is understood here
to have been the temper of the British
foreign Office. While it is impossible
to trace the steps that led to reversal
of this view, it appears that the state
of public opinion in the United States,
so far as Germany is concerned, pro-
duced a revision of the first idea.
The officials here maintain absolute
silence regarding the character of the
answer. The foreign office has no in.
formation to the effect that President
castro has bestowed on Minister Bow
en- full power to represent Ven
ezuela in the settlement of the exist
ing difficulties, but such step to-
ward solution would be received
with pleasure.
Safeguards Desired.
London, Dec. 22.-Great Britain has
sent reply to the United States in
regard to the suggestion that the Ven
ezuelan question should be submitted
to arbitration.
The tenor of the reply, it is expected
here, will tend to bring about some
arrangement for satisfactory sou-
ton, while thoroughly safeguarding
the interests of the powers concerned.
The note to Reuters Telegraph
company announcing that Great Brit
ain had sent reply to the United
States, says:
1.-THE statements issuing from Car
acas to the effect that President Cas-.
tro has empowered Minister Bowen to
act as the representative of Venezuela
are regarded in London as open to
question. Any such action on the part
OF President Castro would be consid.