Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-12-25
TAKING "SOUNDINGS'
Roosevelt Cannot Act a. Arbitra.
tor Till Formally Requested.
PRESIDENTS VIEW SENT 1OPOWERS
The President and Secretary Hay Held .
Long Conference Over the vsnssuslan
Situation and They Hold The Hague
Tribunal Was for such Oasss.

Washington, Dec. 23.-President
Roosevelt has not accepted the posi-
ton Of arbitrator Of the Venezuelan
controversy. In fact, when the off.
cial day closed he had not received
formally or officially, request from
the European powers that he act a.
arbitrator Of the dispute. These
statements are made on the highest
authority. In an informal manner
tho president has been notified that
the European powers intimately con-
cerned In the present South Ameri-
can difficulty desire that he should
undertake the responsibility Of act
ing as arbitrator Of the points at
issue between them and Venezuela.
Thus far they merely have been tax
ing "soundings" with a view, prob
ably, Of ascertaining how he would
receive . formal prefer to act as Or.
bitrator. The president so soon as
he received the first intimation that
he was desired to be arbitrator Of
the Venezuelan controversy ex-
pressed emphatically his judgment
that the matters to be arbitrated
should be referred to The Hague
tribunal. His views Of the sug-
gestlons made have been conveyed
to the European powers, together
with strong presentation Of his
reasons for the view he holds. No
response Of a formal nature TO these
representations has been received.
The president and Secretary Hay
had long conference yesterday after
the formers return from his Virginia
trip. They carefully went over the
situation as 1t had developed since
Saturday, but 1t Is understood that
nothing has arisen during the past
4S hours to warrant the president
IN changing his opinion ~ to tho un-
desirability Of his acceptance Of the
position Of arbitrator. So far a. can
be learned no specific reasons have
been advanced by the European pow
ers for objecting to a reference Of
the Venezuelan questions to the ar-
bitration Of The Hague tribunal. II
Is held by the administration that
the tribunal at The Hague was con.
stituted to arbitrate Just such con-
troversies as that which has arisen
between Venezuela and the powers
and that 1t would be desirable from
every view point that the present
dispute should go 10 that tribunal
Tor adjudication. How strong the OBJ
|ections which Great Britain, Ger.
many and Italy have to a reference
II the Venezuelan difficulty to The
Hague tribunal Is not known to the
administration at this time. Even
he nature of the objections, II there
'e any, Is not known. The negotla-
ions looking to the selection Of an
arbitrator have not progressed suffi-
iently yet to develop such objections
IS the powers may have.
The acceptance by the powers Of
he principle Of arbitration as ap-
lied to the Venezuelan question Is
matter of great qualification to
he president and his cabinet. That
IL the powers have intimated, too,
hat .thex would nrefer the president
hould arbitrate the present dispute
taken as a notable compliment to
he president personally and to his
1t is the hope Of
9th the president and his advisers,
owever, that while there is prece-
ent for his acceptance of the post !
arbitrator, the powers will con-
mt to reference Of the contro-
,rsed matters in the Venezuelan
iestion to the tribunal at The
ague.
While 1t is recognized by the presi. a
'nt's closest advisers and by the g
'esident himself that some unpleas- n
1t possibilities might attend his n
rformance of the duties Of arbi- n
ator Of the pending Venezuelan DIFF n
ulty, his friends assert that he will q
irk no responsibility that he may g
EN- 1t his duty to undertake, but "
II accept II the powers should in q
It on it, though he is very reluctant +
do so. u