Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-24
The Presidents plans.

Washington, Dec. 24.--It is under
Rtood that the presidents plan, If he
determines to arbitrate. contemplates
the appointment of a board of arbitra-
tors. He would not confide this i'm
portant undertaking to any one man
nor does he feel able himself to spare
The vast amount of time necessary for
IN examination in detail of each of the
many claims that would be presented
against Venezuela Necessarily the
presidents own board would include
Dome members Of a high order of legal
lalent, as well as others thoroughly
Fersed in the practice of international
law.
1t is said that the crucial point to
fome before arbitrator is the famous
tCalvo doctrine" This doctrine, which
Mas laid down by the greatest Of Latin
american international lawyers, and
Tor very many years has been regarded
as beyond question by all of the Latin
American republics, denies the right of
any nation to intervene dip1omaticaliy
in behalf OF one Of its subjects where
the courts OF the country are open to
bis application for justice. Thus Ven
fzuela has asserted that all OF these
Elements, German, Italian. French,
might have gone before the Venezuelan
courts. and IL their causes had been
bust and so decided by the courts. the
government would have paid the judg-
ments. The objection to this view is
that no account is taken OF miscar-
riages Of justice and OF racial antipath-
les.
But so determined are the South
american countries to adhere to this
doctrine that some of them have gone
TO extraordinary lengths In their re-
Eistence Of diplomatic efforts of foreign
governments to secure justice for sub
5ects. A notable case is that of Sal
Nad0r. Recently a United States cor
poration obtained, after arbitration.
Judgment against the government OF
Salvador. The verdict was received
with intense indignation in Salvador,
and so intense was the anti foreign
feeling excited that a law has been
passed within the last few weeks max
Ing 1t a criminal offense, and one to be
heavily punished, for any Salyadorian
to- give any evidence whatever before
any court in behalf of foreigner
Claiming damages against the Saliva
dorian government.
This doctrine will be on trial before
the arbitration and because OF its vast
importance IL President Roosevelt ap-
points a board he will see that mem
bers are men Of the highest caIibre.
1t is known that now some members
Of the cabinet are opposed to referring
the matter to the Hague tribunal for
these reasons:
In the first place, they have no desire
ITO submit the Monroe doctrine to the
arbitration of any nom American tri-
buflaL not even excepting the august
and enlinently fair tribunal of the
Hague. They very much prefer that if
this doctrine is to be the subject OF ar
If 1t is to be even brought in
incidentally, that American influences
shall pass on 1t. Not that the fairness
OF the Hague arbitration is impeached,
but as most of them represent Euro
pean and monarchial interests, it is
realized that their training may be re-
garded as unsympathetic where they
nre required to deal with such an es-
sentiaily American subject as the Mon
roe doctrine. 1t is true that on its face
the arbitration proposal contains moth
ing that Indicates that this doctrine is |
10 De ALlack6u, Out SO complex and |
numerous are the questions which will |
come before the arbitrators that it is |
apprehended here that the famous doc
trine scarcely can be kept from con-
Another reason that anin1ates these I
cabinet officers in this inclination to- |
ward acceptance by the president of the |
offer made him is their conviction that !
an inordinate length of time would be
If the issue is taken before |
the Hague tribunal. The machinery is |
sufficient, but ponderous and difficult to |
put in motion. First, there must be /
base of arbitration. then ar
bitratofis must be selected by the par
ties to the case and these in turn must
choose an umpire or unpires, and while
all this is going on the blockade would
continue, with it's ever present danger
of active hostilities and bloodshed that /
might render nugatory all attempts at
arbitration. On the other hand, IL the
president undertakes the settlement he
can get rid of all red tape and start the
work of arbitration within few days .
CASTRO HEMMED IN.